We are a virology/gene therapy/cancer biology lab in the Division of Human Biology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. Research in the lab is focused on an understanding of virus biology, in part with the goal of development and testing of viral vectors for human gene therapy. We currently study adeno-associated viruses (AAV) and retroviruses. Disease targets include hematopoietic cells for treatment of genetic diseases that affect blood cells and airway epithelial cells for treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and cystic fibrosis. Another goal of our work is to better understand the mechanisms of lung cancer induction by the retroviruses jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV). We have developed mouse models of cancer induction by these viruses for further study. A new area for us is study of the human retrovirus XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus), infection by which has been associated with prostate cancer and with chronic fatigue syndrome. We are working to establish animal models to gain insight into pathogenesis by XMRV.
