Curriculum Vitae

Meredith A. Preuss, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Division of Human Gene Therapy

574 Biomedical Research Building II
901 19th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35294

Email: mpreuss@uab.edu

Phone: (205) 975-2960
DHGT phone: (205)-934-8627
DHGT fax: (205) 975-7476

Mentor: David T. Curiel

Undergraduate Institution:
Stetson University (Deland, FL)
Graduate Institution: University of Iowa
Entered DHGT: September 2002


Research Interests

The endothelium has been recognized as a key mediator of various disease processes in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. Thus, these cells are an attractive target for gene therapy. Adenoviral vectors are well suited for gene therapy in these instances due to its favorable safety profile and high transgene capacity. However, the utility of adenovirus for endothelial targeting has been limited by a paucity of endothelial tissue specific promoters that will limit transgene expression in non-target tissues such as the liver. In this regard, we are investigating candidate endothelial promoters that give high transgene expression in vascular endothelial cells in vivo and limit liver gene expression which has been shown to lead to toxicity. Further, using the above described technology to target endothelial cells in vivo, we are investigating the effect of various therapeutic genes for pulmonary hypertension. In these studies, we are studying the ability of targeted potent vasodilators to improve lung morphology and reduce oxidative stress. Other research interests include, targeting to the proliferating endothelium of tumors, capsid modified viruses for endothelial targeting and the use of adenovirus as a tool for introducing interfering RNAs (RNAi).

About Meredith

My family includes my husband Chris, stepchildren Emily and Christopher and our four dogs. We are very involved in helping local dog rescues and three of our four dogs are from rescue. As creative outlets, I also enjoy lampworking (working with molten glass using a torch) small beads and sculptures, fish keeping (freshwater aquarium with exotic South American carnivorous fish), and home improvement projects with my husband.