Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., reports that it will feature a series of “Perspectives” by top pioneers in cell and gene therapy in the 2014 issues of the journal. The series will celebrate Human Gene Therapy’s 25th anniversary next year.

According to Mary Collins, Ph.D., chair of the award selection committee, a blue-ribbon scientific panel was commissioned to identify the pioneers. “Identifying the pioneers who have made current successes in gene therapy possible was a really interesting process. The committee agreed that a mixture of virologists, technologists, and clinicians had made essential contributions,” says Dr. Collins.

The Winners of the 12 Pioneer Series Awards are:

Robin R. Ali, Ph.D., UCL Institute of Ophthalmology;
  Jean Bennett, M.D., Ph.D., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; and
  William W. Hauswirth, Ph.D., University of Florida College of Medicine
     Nominated for: Gene therapy for eye disorders

Malcolm K. Brenner, M.D., Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine
     Nominated for: Cancer gene therapy using gene modified T cells

Frederic D. Bushman, Ph.D., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; and
  Christof von Kalle, M.D., Ph.D., National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg
     Nominated for: Vector integration and tumorigenesis

Marina Cavazzana, M.D., Ph.D., Paris Descartes University; and
  Adrian J. Thrasher, M.D., Ph.D., UCL Institute of Child Health
     Nominated for: Basic and clinical gene therapy for immunodeficiency disorders

Ronald G. Crystal, M.D., Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
     Nominated for: Adenoviral vectors/role in translation of gene therapy to clinic

Zelig Eshhar, Ph.D., Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science; and
  Carl H. June, M.D., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
     Nominated for: CARs for cancer gene therapy/lentiviral gene therapy clinical trials

Joseph C. Glorioso III, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine
     Nominated for: Development of HSV as a vector for gene therapy

Katherine A. High, M.D., Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia;
  Amit C. Nathwani, Ph.D., UCL Cancer Institute;
  Andrew M. Davidoff, M.D., St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and
  Arthur W. Nienhuis, M.D., St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
     Nominated for: Basic and clinical gene therapy for hemophilia

A. Dusty Miller, Ph.D., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington; and
  Richard C. Mulligan, Ph.D., Harvard Gene Therapy Initiative, Harvard Institute of Medicine
     Nominated for: Retroviral vectors

Luigi M. Naldini, M.D., Ph.D., San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy
     Nominated for: Basic and clinical lentiviral vector development and translational gene therapy

R. Jude Samulski, Ph.D., Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
     Nominated for: Basic AAV vector technology

James M. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
     Nominated for: Basic and clinical AAV vector development

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