Learning from nature: PhD position in AAV virology with applications in Gene Therapy

The Trellis research group, led by Prof. Els Henckaerts, is a research group that focusses on developing new and innovative gene therapies based on the non-pathogenic adeno-associated virus (AAV). Through studying the virus biology, Trellis aims to improve its properties as a vector for therapeutic gene delivery, as well as develop new AAV-based gene therapies for patients. To this end, Trellis is actively contributing to the development of an ecosystem within Flanders and the wider EU region in which the academic and industrial sectors come together to catalyze the development of gene therapies and increase the chance of successfully bringing them to the clinic.

Project

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) is a leading vector for in vivo gene therapy, with >200 clinical trials and six products approved in Europe. However, rAAV manufacturing remains inefficient, and manufacturing thus proposes a significant bottleneck for safe and cost-eff...