Molecular Medicine
 

We will develop new gene and protein-based approaches for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and malignant glioma. Major achievements include the discovery of the vasculoprotective effect of VEGF gene therapy, characterization of the vascular effects of the members of the VEGF family (VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGF-E, VEGF-F and their receptors) including their effects on lymphatic vessels, and identification of several new candidate genes for the treatment of vascular diseases. Several significant improvements have been made to adenoviral, lentiviral and baculoviral gene transfer vectors, their expression cassettes and targeting properties. Also, a completely new concept - "Epigenetherapy" - has been discovered by our group, where promoter-targeted shRNAs can upregulate endogenous gene expression. Two of our discoveries in gene-based drugs have been brought to phase II/III human clinical trials in EU and USA.