Cell and Gene Therapy Program

Introduction

Improvements in the understanding of the molecular basis of disease have encouraged the development of novel cellular and gene therapy strategies that have the potential to revolutionize the therapy of a wide variety of human diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV, and a number of other conditions. Baylor College of Medicine has made the development of a comprehensive cell and gene therapy program aimed at developing innovative treatments for both adults and children a high priority. Such a program requires both a strong basic science research effort as well as targeted clinical research programs.

Through the cooperative effort of Baylor College of Medicine, The Methodist Hospital, and Texas Children’s Hospital, the creation of a program of this magnitude has been achieved. In January of 1997, Dr. Malcolm Brenner was recruited to lead this multi-institutional program.

The basic research laboratories of gene therapy are located at Baylor College of Medicine in the newly constructed Alkek Building and the recruitment of scientific faculty to support such a program has been completed.

The 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art adult stem cell transplant unit at The Methodist Hospital opened in October of 1999. The unit consists of a 15-bed inpatient unit with a contiguous outpatient unit and infusion area for providing seamless care between inpatients and outpatients.

The 16,200 square foot Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Unit opened in June of 201 and has a contiguous unit with nine inpatient beds.

Laboratory space to support the pre-clinical research component, and the Gene Vector Laboratory (GVL) for the production of clinical grade vectors both reside in the Feigin Center at Texas Children’s Hospital. The Feigin Center also contains Cell and Molecular Therapy Laboratories which operate under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines. Currently, construction of additional space for the GVL and the Translational Research Laboratory is underway at the Feigin Center, with an expected completion date of early 2003.

These laboratories process patient components for use in clinical trials according to the novel cellular and gene therapy strategies developed through the integrated efforts of the clinical faculty and the basic and pre-clinical research faculty. Creation of the financial and administrative infrastructure necessary to support such a multi-institutional program has been a joint effort between the institutions.

©2002, Cell And Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, N1002, Houston, TX 77030, (713)798-1246
URL: http://www.bcm.edu/genetherapy Email:cagt@bcm.edu
(Modified: September 21st, 2007 - jb)