BOSTON – Geneticist Beverly Davidson, PhD, was honored with the 2026 Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) for her significant contributions to gene therapy research. Currently serving as the chief scientific strategy officer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Davidson’s work is pivotal in the development of gene therapies targeting central nervous system (CNS) disorders, particularly Huntington’s disease (HD).
At the conference, Davidson highlighted innovations from Latus Bio, a biotech firm she co-founded, which recently secured $97 million in Series A funding. This financial backing will bolster Latus Bio’s efforts to refine adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) specifically designed for CNS applications. Davidson’s research emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate cargo and delivery mechanisms to enhance therapeutic outcomes for HD patients.
Davidson outlined the challenges of achieving effective gene therapy delivery to the brain, noting that traditional intravenous methods often lack sufficient targeting. Her lab’s advancements in AAV engineering, including the development of AAV-DB-3, demonstrate enhanced potency and specificity for deep brain structures. With plans to file an Investigational New Drug application for Latus Bio’s HD therapy, LTS-201, in late 2026, Davidson’s work exemplifies the potential for scalable treatments in genetic disorders.
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