Research Support
SPIRITS

Development of non-invasive gene transfer technique for primate brain using novel viral vectors

Project Gist

Development of novel technique for non-invasive gene delivery into primate brain using viral vector

Keywords

viral vector, transcranial focused ultrasonic stimulation, brain, gene delivery, primates

Joint Research/Academic Institutions Abroad

HM CINAC

Background and Purpose

This research project aims at achieving non-invasive gene delivery into the primate brain through the development of novel viral vector and its delivery system, and establishing such technique at a practical level. To this end, we will utilize microbubbles and transcranial focused ultrasonic stimulation (tFUS) combined with intravenous injection of the viral vector, thereby leading to the development of cutting-edge technique for transducing foreign genes into the brain of macaque monkeys close to humans in a non-invasive and region-selective fashion. The outcome of this project may contribute to producing gene-manipulated primate models of psychiatric/neurological disorders and developing non-invasive gene therapy trials.

Project Achievements

We not only have confirmed that our newly-developed viral vector exhibits highly-efficient, brain-wide gene transfer into neurons via intravenous administration of the vector, but also have successfully developed the methodology for delivering foreign genes selectively into a particular brain region by means of transcranial focused ultrasonic stimulation. This cutting-edge technique may contribute to producing gene-manipulated primate models of psychiatric/neurological disorders and, also, to developing non-invasive gene therapy approaches. In addition, the present work has achieved some successful result in producing a project manager-type research leader with the ability to accomplish the goal of a research project and lead internationally competitive research for sustainably developing Kyoto University’s research strength.

Future Prospects

To avoid the damage to brain tissue due to transcranial focused ultrasonic stimulation and establish a novel technique for highly effective and efficient transfer of foreign genes into a target neuron population, an attempt will be made to optimize the vector delivery system and publish an original paper about the present work.

Figure

Gene delivery into neonatal monkey brain regions by intravenous administration of newly-developed viral vector
Gene delivery into adult monkey brain regions by viral vector administration combined with tFUS

Principal Investigator

TAKADA Masahiko

TAKADA Masahiko
Primate Research Institute
Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Toronto, Canada. Assistant Professor at University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA. Worked at Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University; Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience; and Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University. My expertise is “Basal ganglia” and “Parkinson disease”. My favorite motto is “Stake all on success”.
http://www.pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/sections/systems_neuroscience/index.html