University of Washington

Stephen Denison Hauschka

Jeffrey S Chamberlain

Charles E Murry

Michael Laflamme

Julian Ramos

Michael Regnier

F Steven Korte

Scott Lundy

Guy Odom

Charles Murry

Nucleotide sequences including a micro-dystrophin gene are provided. The micro-dystrophin genes may be operatively linked to a regulatory cassette. Methods of treating a subject having, or at risk of developing, muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia, heart disease, or cachexia are also provided. The methods may include administering a pharmaceutical composition including the micro-dystrophin gene and a delivery vehicle to a subject. Further, the methods may include administering the pharmaceutical composition a subject having Duchenne muscular dystrophy or Becker muscular dystrophy.

Micro-dystrophins and related methods of use

Compositions and methods for improving cardiac function, myocardial contractility and relaxation in a mammal are provided. Cardiomyocytes transfected with one or more expression vectors comprising a ribonucleotide reductase subunit R1-encoding nucleic acid sequence and a ribonucleotide reductase subunit R2-encoding nucleic acid sequence operably linked to a promoter are grafted to a mammalian myocardium. Also provided are compositions and methods for delivering dATP to a myocardium through grafting of donor cells overexpressing R1 and R2. dATP is thereby produced in situ and delivered through gap junctions established between donor cells and host cardiomyocytes. Alternatively, viral vector(s) having the R1 and R2-encoding construct(s) are administered to the mammal directly. Improvement of cardiac function can also be effected by administration of vectors comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a L48Q, 61 Q, or L57Q cTnC variant.

Cell and gene based methods to improve cardiac function

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Stephen Denison Hauschka