John Chiorini

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have several characteristics that make them attractive agents for gene therapy, including stability, ease of manipulation, low immunogenicity, and the ability to direct long term expression of transgenes. The overall research goal of Dr. Chiorini’s AAV Biology Section is to define the interactions of AAV with its target cell. By understanding these interactions and the biology of the virus, vectors with enhanced activity can be developed and existing vectors can be more finely targeted to specific applications.

Ongoing projects are looking at possibilities to use these vectors to treat diseases with unmet clinical need. Of special interest are vectors that can target diseases of the salivary gland, including radiation-induced xerostomia and Sjögren's disease. In addition to developing gene therapy vectors targeted to the salivary gland, research projects investigate the etiology and epigenetic regulation of salivary gland dysfunction.