Gene Therapy and Engineering:
The Hype, the Reality and the Future
Dr. Eric Schuur
DNA is the blueprint of life. Since the discovery of DNA’s structure in 1953, DNA has become part of the lexicon of modern society to represent that which is most fundamental to what we are. DNA is used to build genes that contain instructions for synthesizing proteins, which in turn carry out most functions in living organisms. Consequently, the concept has garnered endless interest and generated a substantial amount of fear around the possibilities for manipulating DNA and thereby creating human tragedy. This talk will introduce the idea of genes, the fundamental functional units of DNA, and how the ability to manipulate DNA—and thus the structure of genes—is contributing to progress in the health sciences with the goal of dispelling misconceptions about genetic engineering and gene therapy.
In this lecture we will look back at early human efforts to manipulate genes. Building on these early practices, we will explore how modern technologies have revolutionized genetic medicine. As we explore these advances, the ethics of gene manipulation and efforts to guide and restrict human gene manipulation will be addressed. We will touch on current categories of genetic medicine and how these are merging with related fields, such as cell therapy and synthetic biology. Finally, we will survey the industry working to deliver these innovative therapies to patients in need and take a look at future controversies in the light of current successes.
Dr. Eric R. Schuur is an experienced life science innovator with over 30 years in regenerative medicine, gene therapy, diagnostics, and oncology. Educated at UCLA and the Scripps Research Institute, he advanced early oncolytic virus technology at Calydon, Inc. (later acquired by CellGenesys) and helped bring an asthma device from pilot studies to approval at Asthmatx, Inc. (acquired by Boston Scientific). As a consultant, Dr. Schuur supported companies like Genomic Health and Janssen Diagnostics in launching cancer diagnostic tests. Currently, as Founder and CEO of Hepatx, he leads efforts to deliver innovative cell therapies for liver disease. He also advises the Stanford SPARK program, directs the StartX Med Labs Cooperative incubator, and serves on the State of Oregon Innovation Council. Dr. Schuur is author/inventor on over 30 peer reviewed articles and patents. He lives in Tumalo with his wife, Melinda, and dog, Wally.