To produce a mighty book you must choose a mighty theme.
—Herman Melville

	Adenoviral Vectors for Gene Therapy provides detailed and comprehensive coverage of these important therapeutic agents. The topics covered in this book range from the basic biology of adenoviruses, through the construction and purification of adenoviral vectors, cutting-edge vectorology and the use of adenoviral vectors in preclinical animal models, to regulatory issues which must be considered prior to the initiation of human clinical gene therapy trials. The broad scope of this unique volume provides the reader with a complete understanding of the development and use of adenoviral vectors. Click here to purchase.
	Vector Targeting for Therapeutic Gene Delivery presents the most recent advances in target definition technology and provides a detailed overview on the rational design of targeted vectors for gene therapy. A theoretical framework for advanced vector design is provided that integrates all of the allied sciences relevant to the study of vector targeting. The text discusses the basic underlying science and then leads to discussions of the various viral vectors and methods of defining targets. Finally, an expert outlook on promising therapeutic applications is offered. Click here to purchase.
	Cancer Gene Therapy is a complete introduction and guide to the latest developments in cancer gene therapy-from bench to bedside. The authors comprehensively review the anticancer genes and gene delivery methods currently available for cancer gene therapy, including the transfer of genetic material into the cancer cells, stimulation of the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, and the targeting of the nonmalignant stromal cells that support their growth. They also thoroughly examine the advantages and limitations of the different therapies and detail strategies to overcome obstacles to their clinical implementation. Topics of special interest include vector-targeting techniques, the lessons learned to date from clinical trials of cancer gene therapy, and the regulatory guidelines for future trials. Noninvasive techniques to monitor the extent of gene transfer and disease regression during the course of treatment are also discussed. Click here to purchase.

Visitors to the Gene Therapy Center website can purchase books from John Wiley & Sons, and receive a 15% discount on any Wiley title! In order to receive the Gene Therapy Center discount, please enter the promotion code W3367 into the Discount Field on the checkout page on wiley.com. Once you've entered the code, press the Apply Discount button and the 15% discount will be applied upon checkout. Don't forget to use the promotion code W3367 for your discount!

David T. Curiel, M.D., Ph.D. and Joanne T. Douglas, Ph.D., have edited three texts in a little more than a year. In 2002 the books Adenoviral Vectors for Gene Therapy and Vector Targeting for Therapeutic Gene Delivery were published by Elsevier Science (Academic Press) and John Wiley & Sons, respectively; a third book, Cancer Gene Therapy, was published by Humana Press in 2005.

Curiel says this textual “triptych” mirrors the three major areas of focus in the Gene Therapy Center. “We do many things in the Gene Therapy Center, but these three themes — using adenovirus as a vector, targeting as an approach to improving therapeutic index in the treatment of disease, and cancer gene therapy — are the three preeminent strengths of our center.”

The editors also note that these three themes have, until now, been underdeveloped in the scientific canon. So for each text, Curiel and Douglas recruited a constellation of experts as authors. “Every chapter of each book is written by someone who is considered to be a leading authority in that field,” says Douglas. From this expertise emerged comprehensive treatments of every aspect of adenoviral vectors, vector targeting, and cancer gene therapy. “For example, in Adenoviral Vectors, we go from basic biology of adenovirus and its infection all the way through federal regulation of adenovirus in clinical trials,” says Douglas. “That’s never been done before.”

Curiel says the impetus for the books came from the GTC’s educational arm. “Since Joanne created our gene therapy Ph.D. track, we have taken on lots of predoctoral trainees. Getting these students up to speed in the lab was difficult, because gene therapy is so interdisciplinary — we couldn’t point them to any comprehensive sources. We needed primers in our specialties, and we thought, why not make primers?”

“These subjects are established subfields in gene therapy, but there were no definitive texts,” Douglas adds. “We approached three presses and proposed a rigorous treatment for each topic.” From publishers to contributors, they were met with great enthusiasm, she says. “We didn’t even have to chase authors around after their deadlines.”

“One of the advantages of UAB’s culture of interactivity is that we have relationships with many researchers in these areas, and they were willing to participate,” says Curiel. But he says that for now no more new texts are in the works. “Our goal isn’t to edit as many books as possible; we felt these books were timely and well warranted in the field.” But he won’t close the book on future possibilities. “I certainly wouldn’t say that we’ve told our story and have nothing left to say.”