# Lentivirus Construct Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2024 · $208,232

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
The past 20 years have seen a rapid expansion in the use of viral gene transfer vectors, with approved therapies
and late stage clinical trials underway for the treatment of genetic disorders and multiple forms of cancer, as well
as prevention of infectious diseases through vaccination. Major innovations in vector design and virus production
have been accomplished for the three most widely used viral vector systems based on adenovirus, adeno-
associated virus (AAV), and lentivirus. For laboratory investigators, cell and molecular biology methods to stably
over-express and knockout a gene in cells and tissues have become indispensable in modern biomedical
research. Lentivirus-mediated over-expression and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
(CRISPR) knockout techniques are particularly powerful due to their efficiency and the capability of infecting
dividing and non-dividing cells. Given the significant need and demand to use these viral gene transfer
technologies and the lack of expert service providers in Rhode Island and the rest Southern New England region,
we propose a Lentivirus Construct Core for the Stem Cells and Aging (SCA) COBRE Phase 3. Our long-term
goal is to provide cutting-edge viral gene transfer technologies to the greater biomedical research community in
Rhode Island and beyond. To accomplish this goal, we propose the following 4 Specific Aims: Specific Aim 1.
To provide lentivirus technologies for easy access and efficient use. Specific Aim 2. To enhance the
competitiveness of Rhode Island investigators to secure federal research funding. Specific Aim 3. To align our
Core with translational research. Specific Aim 4. To become an independent self-sustainable service research
facility. Innovations and impact: Recombinant viral vectors are powerful gene delivery tools for cells, animal
models, and clinical applications. The lentiviral constructs from our Core will differ in their suitability for different
applications, and will allow investigators to monitor cell functions, replace, correct, express or block expression
of target genes, tag cells for fate determination, and change the physiological state of specific cell populations.
The timely development of COVID-19 pseudovirus variants by our Core was a prime example of innovation. To
genetically engineer oncolytic adenovirus encoding bispecific T cell engagers is cutting-edge, and the novel
immunovirotherapies have the potential to make a profound impact in cancer treatments. The current exponential
growth of clinical trials using AAV vectors suggests that we are only at the beginning of what is achievable for
AAV as the leading platform for gene therapies. These innovations can potentially address diseases that have
no other treatment options. In this vein, the Lentivirus Construct Core has already successfully made and will
continue to make a positive impact as a catalyst on basic and translational research to improve human healt...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10874446
- **Project number:** 5P30GM145500-02
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Olin D. Liang
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $208,232
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10874446

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10874446, Lentivirus Construct Core (5P30GM145500-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10874446. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*