Developing advanced methods to engineer human cells for therapies
Official title: Engineering therapeutic cellular functions using robust and highly programmable extrachromosomal genetic technologies
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11091637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to improve treatments using your own cells by using special viruses that help add helpful genes without changing your DNA, so patients can get safer and more effective therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $435,783 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB036003-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11091637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals requiring innovative cell-based therapies for their medical conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require cell-based therapies or have conditions that cannot be addressed through cellular engineering may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving how human cells are engineered for therapeutic purposes by using innovative genetic technologies that do not permanently alter the cell's DNA. Instead of integrating new genetic material into the genome, which can lead to unpredictable outcomes, this approach utilizes non-integrating DNA viruses that can maintain their genetic information within cells without disrupting natural sequences. By leveraging these viruses, the research aims to create safer and more effective cell-based therapies that can be used in clinical settings. Patients may benefit from more reliable and efficient treatments that harness the body's own cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective cell-based therapies for various medical conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using non-integrating genetic technologies, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hilton, Isaac — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Hilton, Isaac
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.