Organization

The goal of The Center for Gene Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis is to provide a forum for uniting scientists involved in diverse but relevant research fields, enabling them to focus on issues central to the development of molecular therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF). Our aim is to use the resources available from this Center to provide a fertile environment for the exchange of ideas, the sharing of expertise, and the co-mentoring of junior investigators in establishing independent CF-focused research programs, in order to promote and increase the pace of progress in developing molecular therapies for CF.

Administrative Core

The Administrative Core, consisting of the Center Director (John Engelhardt), Associate Director (Amy Ryan), and an Administrator (Mary Beckler), acts under the supervision of the Center Executive Committee. This Core coordinates and oversees many different aspects of the Center, including financial documentation and accountability for the Center, membership and recruitment, scientific enrichment programs such as external speaker seminars and a weekly CF Research Seminar series, retreats, workshops, recruitment and external reviews of pilot and feasibility applications, review of the Research Cores, and maintenance of the Center’s web site. A primary function of the Administrative Core is to implement decisions made by the Executive Committee in order to ensure that the goals of the Center are achieved. Scientific functions of the Core include evaluation of the services offered by the Research Cores and the solicitation and monitoring of pilot and feasibility projects; and overseeing all budgets associated with the Center. Scientific enrichment programs administered by this Core include: a weekly CF Research Seminar series where post-docs, graduate students, junior investigators, pilot holders, and external speakers present their CF-related research; specialized internal and external speaker seminars co-sponsored by CF Programs on campus; journal and discussion clubs; an up-to-date web site which highlights the latest achievements and research of Center investigators, research core services, and other Center activities; and visits of select expert External Reviewers throughout the year. The Core is also responsible for collating publications that utilized the Research Cores annually, ensuring that all Center-associated publications are compliant with the NIH public access policy with PMCID number, and all other required reporting to NIH.

Executive Committee

This committee makes decisions on policy, Center membership status, appointments to membership, changes in the appropriation of Center resources, and changes in the scientific direction of Center activities. The committee gives particular attention to reviewing various core services and Center Member usage. This information is then used as the foundation for any necessary reallocations of Center resources. The Executive Committee is aided in these functions by advice from individual investigators, information obtained through Core usage surveys of Center Members, and suggestions from External Advisors. The Center Executive Committee also reviews recommendations on potential pilots made by the Pilot and Feasibility Advisory Committee. In summary, the Executive committee has been the predominant decision-making body in the administration of this P30 Center, with the overall goal of ensuring that the Center is responsive to and supportive of new developments in the field of CF molecular therapy research. The following individuals currently constitute the Executive Committee of the Center:

  • Dr. John Engelhardt (Chair) Director, Center for Gene Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis
  • Dr. Michael Welsh (Co-Chair) Director, Cystic Fibrosis Research Center
  • Dr. Paul McCray, Associate Director, Center for Gene Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis
  • David Stoltz Director, CF RDP and CF Pig Pathophysiology PPG
  • Dr. Joseph Zabner, Director, Cells and Tissue Core
  • Dr. Katie Larson-Ode Director, Clinical Core
  • Dr. Pat Winokur, Director, Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS)

Pilot and Feasibility Advisory Committee

The Internal Pilot and Feasibility Advisory Committee serves as one component of pilot grant review. In addition to external reviewers for each of the pilot and feasibility projects, Ad hoc internal reviewers may also be used depending on the area of expertise required for review. The following individuals comprise the Internal Pilot and Feasibility Advisory Committee for this Center:

  • Dr. John Engelhardt (Chair)
  • Dr. Michael Welsh (Co-Chair)
  • Dr. Joseph Zabner
  • Dr. Paul McCray
  • Dr. David Stoltz