The Cell and Gene Therapy Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a regional hub for cross-disciplinary innovation in neurological care. Our program unites leaders in neurosurgery, neurology, transplant immunology, and other specialties within a highly integrated academic medical environment.
Together, our experts bridge laboratory discovery and clinical application, accelerating promising breakthroughs from the bench to the bedside.
Through bold research and collaborative innovation, our team is expanding the possibilities of cell- and gene-based therapies, advancing restorative treatments, and improving outcomes for patients facing complex neurological diseases.
Our Mission
UAB investigators, scientists, and clinicians are among a select group nationwide advancing research in cell- and gene-based therapies for neurological conditions. While recent progress has been made, significant research needs remain.
Our team is committed to:
- Advancing discovery through translational research
- Leading and participating in cutting-edge clinical trials
- Ensuring rigorous evaluation of safety and efficacy
- Expanding access to next-generation therapies
Every day, our experts work to move innovative science toward safer, more effective treatment options that improve quality of life for the patients and families affected by devastating neurological disorders.
Our Vision
To serve as the Southeast’s leading center for cell- and gene-based therapies for neurological disease, driving clinical innovation, participating in groundbreaking trials, and helping transition these therapies into standard clinical practice.
What is cell and gene therapy?
Cell and gene therapy are rapidly evolving fields of biomedical research designed to treat, prevent, and potentially cure disease by addressing its underlying biological causes.
While closely related, these approaches differ:
- Cell therapy aims to treat diseases by placing cells that have been cultivated or modified outside the body to restore or alter existing sets of cells.
- Gene therapy aims to treat diseases by replacing, inactivating or introducing genes into existing cells.
In some cases, these therapies are combined, working by altering genes in specific types of cells to enhance the therapeutic effect.
These advanced treatments are administered directly to patients using carefully controlled and highly precise techniques.
Clinical Trials
Cell and gene therapy clinical trials are expanding rapidly, particularly in neurological disease. A significant proportion of nervous system gene therapy trials have demonstrated promising efficacy outcomes.
Gene therapy clinical trial data shows that the most common route of delivery is intraparenchymal, or directly into the brain. By delivering these therapies directly into the brain, they bypass the blood-brain barrier, which keeps the therapy behind the barrier and limits exposure to the immune system.
At UAB, patients benefit from real-time imaging, using computation tools and intraoperative MRI navigation to ensure precise therapy placement and surgical success.
National Collaboration
UAB neurosurgeons are active participants in Image-Guided Biologic Therapies: Neurosurgeons Innovating Treatment Excellence (IGNITE), a neurosurgery-led national consortium dedicated to harmonizing the delivery of gene and cell therapies.
IGNITE fosters collaboration across institutions, enhances trial precision, and promotes best practices in image-guided biologic therapy.
Program Members
Executive Team
- James Markert, M.D., MPH – Neurosurgery
- David Standeart, M.D., Ph.D. – Neurology
- Burt Nabors, M.D. – Neurology, Research
- Paige Porrett, M.D., Ph.D. – Transplant Immunology
- Harrison Walker, M.D. – Neurology, Research
Multidisciplinary Core Members
- Marshall Holland, M.D., MS – Neurosurgery, Director
- Victor Sung, M.D. – Neurology, Co-Director
- McKenna Killets – Neurosurgery, Coordination/Regulatory
- Danny Lee – Neurosurgery, Coordination/Regulatory
- Chris Chapleau, Pharm.D., Ph.D. – Pharmacy, Research
- Christian Conley, Pharm.D., Michael Denaburg, Pharm.D., MBA, – Central Pharmacy
- Antonio Di Stasi, M.D. – Cell Therapy Lab
Faculty Members
- Functional Neurosurgery: Nicole Bentley, M.D., Jasmine Thum, M.D., Adeel Ilyas, M.D.
- Movement Disorders Neurology: Coming soon
- Epilepsy Neurology: Coming soon
- Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology: Coming soon