Radio Boston: Tay-Sachs expert talks about gene therapy trial 
By Jim Fessenden
UMass Medical School Communications |
Nov. 16, 2011 |
 |
| Miguel Sena-Esteves, PhD |
Radio Boston host Jessica Alpert interviewed Miguel Sena-Esteves, PhD, associate professor of neurology, and Carey Goldberg, WBUR
Commonhealth reporter, for a segment on a human gene therapy trial for Tay-Sachs disease.
Tay-Sachs disease is a devastating neurological disorder characterized by deterioration of mental and physical abilities starting at six months of age, usually resulting in death by the age of five. It is one of 40 rare, inherited metabolic disorders called lysosomal storage diseases that result from a breakdown in a cell’s ability to remove or recycle waste products due to a missing enzyme.
Dr. Sena-Esteves and his colleagues in the Tay-Sachs Gene Therapy Consortium anticipate that clinical trials might start as soon as late next year for a gene therapy treatment for Tay-Sachs.
To hear the full interview, visit the Radio Boston news page and click on Listen Now.
Related story on UMassMedNow:
Tay-Sachs experts interviewed on progress of gene therapy trials