SCIENTIFIC FOUNDERS
Matthew J. During, MD, DSc
Dr. During is one of the Company's scientific co-founders and has been a member of the SAB since October 1999. Dr. During is an internationally recognized leader in the field of gene therapy of neurological and metabolic diseases and translational neuroscience. Dr. During is currently Professor of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Neuroscience and Neurological Surgery at The Ohio State University Medical School. He is also Professor of Molecular Medicine and Pathology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand where he directs neuroscience and gene therapy programs. From 2004 to 2006 he was the Research Lab Director of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Cornell. He served as Director of the CNS Gene Therapy Center and Professor of Neurosurgery at Jefferson Medical College from 1998 through 2002. From 1989 through 1998, Dr. During was an Assistant then Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Yale University where he directed a translational neuroscience program and headed Yale's first gene therapy protocol. Dr. During is a graduate of the University of Auckland School of Medicine and did further postgraduate and residency training at M.I.T. from 1985 to 1987, Harvard Medical School from 1986 to 1989 and Yale University from 1988 to 1989.
Dr. During is one of the Company's scientific co-founders and has been a member of the SAB since October 1999. Dr. During is an internationally recognized leader in the field of gene therapy of neurological and metabolic diseases and translational neuroscience. Dr. During is currently Professor of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Neuroscience and Neurological Surgery at The Ohio State University Medical School. He is also Professor of Molecular Medicine and Pathology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand where he directs neuroscience and gene therapy programs. From 2004 to 2006 he was the Research Lab Director of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Cornell. He served as Director of the CNS Gene Therapy Center and Professor of Neurosurgery at Jefferson Medical College from 1998 through 2002. From 1989 through 1998, Dr. During was an Assistant then Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Yale University where he directed a translational neuroscience program and headed Yale's first gene therapy protocol. Dr. During is a graduate of the University of Auckland School of Medicine and did further postgraduate and residency training at M.I.T. from 1985 to 1987, Harvard Medical School from 1986 to 1989 and Yale University from 1988 to 1989.
Michael G. Kaplitt, MD, PhD
Dr. Kaplitt is one of the Company's scientific co-founders and has been a member of the SAB since October 1999. Dr. Kaplitt, an expert and innovator in the development of gene therapy techniques against Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders, performed the world's first gene therapy surgery for Parkinson's disease in 2003. He is among the first scientists to publish on the use of viruses for direct gene delivery in the living brain, and was the lead author on the first publication reporting the use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors in the brain. Dr. Kaplitt is currently Associate Professor and Vice Chairman for Research, Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, as well as Director Stereotactic and Functional Surgery and Director Laboratory of Molecular Neurosurgery. Dr. Kaplitt graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in molecular biology from Princeton University. He received his PhD in molecular neurobiology from The Rockefeller University in 1993. He then received his MD from Cornell University School of Medicine in 1995 where he also completed his residency in Neurosurgery.
Dr. Kaplitt is one of the Company's scientific co-founders and has been a member of the SAB since October 1999. Dr. Kaplitt, an expert and innovator in the development of gene therapy techniques against Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders, performed the world's first gene therapy surgery for Parkinson's disease in 2003. He is among the first scientists to publish on the use of viruses for direct gene delivery in the living brain, and was the lead author on the first publication reporting the use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors in the brain. Dr. Kaplitt is currently Associate Professor and Vice Chairman for Research, Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, as well as Director Stereotactic and Functional Surgery and Director Laboratory of Molecular Neurosurgery. Dr. Kaplitt graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in molecular biology from Princeton University. He received his PhD in molecular neurobiology from The Rockefeller University in 1993. He then received his MD from Cornell University School of Medicine in 1995 where he also completed his residency in Neurosurgery.
“… clinical outcomes [from the Phase 1 Parkinson’s disease study] were encouraging. Substantial improvements in both the off and on states were evident, beginning at three months after surgery and continuing until the end of the trial.”
The Lancet, June 23, 2007