Seminar: "Gene Therapy for Metabolic Diseases: Diabetes, MASH and Related Comorbidities" - Fatima Bosch, PhD

Nutritional Sciences Seminar:

"Gene Therapy for Metabolic Diseases: Diabetes, MASH and Related Comorbidities"

Fatima Bosch, PhD
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Director of the Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Fatima Bosch is a distinguished professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Her work focuses on developing innovative treatments for metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases through gene therapy. This presentation will detail her studies using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors to co-express insulin and glucokinase in skeletal muscle. In mice and dogs with Type 1 diabetes this therapy achieved long-term glycemic control without the need for exogenous insulin. In addition, Dr. Bosch's team utilized an AAV vector carrying the FGF21 gene to treat complications related to obesity and type 2 diabetes.  In obese mice such treatment resulted in weight loss, increased insulin sensitivity, reversal of fatty liver, improved cognitive function, and overall improved metabolic health. These programs have been commercially licensed for development as clinical treatments, illustrating the translational potential of her work.