Partnership launched to develop cystic fibrosis gene therapy

Experts at Oxford are teaming up with leading figures from industry to advance development of a gene therapy for cystic fibrosis. The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, of which the University is a member, will join with Boehringer Ingelheim and Oxford Biomedica to develop a new viral vector-based therapy. The partnership builds on pioneering research carried out by the Consortium including clinical trials, which have shown encouraging results. The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium is a collaboration between Imperial College London and the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition caused by mutations in a gene called CFTR. The disease causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the airways and digestive tract. People affected by the condition are more prone to lung diseases and have a significantly reduced life expectancy.