Richard Harbottle

Head of Division at DKFZ German Cancer Research Center

Since my time in the Gene Therapy Research Group at Imperial College, I’ve worked on non-viral gene therapy. My PhD was focused on getting DNA into cells and even then I realised that the genetic component of these vectors was arguably more important than the methods of delivery.
My research has subsequently focused on generating novel, next-generation DNA vectors for cell and gene cell therapy.
The DNA Vector Lab has refined and developed a novel DNA vector platform that can be used for the persistent genetic modification of dividing cells without causing molecular or genetic damage. These non-integrating non-viral vectors can be used comparably in gene and cell therapy applications to integrating vector systems such as Lentiviral and Sleeping Beauty vectors and gene editing systems such as CRISPR/CAS9; in some instances, these DNA vectors can be used where viruses and editing systems cannot. We are continuously refining these DNA Vectors by reducing the impact they have on target cells and improving their capabilities.
This improved DNA Vector design has clear ramifications for its clinical application and our recent work using it for the engineering of T Cells for immunotherapy is now one of our primary avenues of research.