About LTGVV
The Laboratory
The Gene Therapy and Viral Vectors Laboratory (LTGVV), founded in 2021, is a translational research space dedicated to advanced therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Located at the Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF) of UFRJ, it brings together a multidisciplinary team combining molecular engineering, virology, neurobiology, and gene editing.
Location
Where to find us
Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Health Sciences Center (CCS), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão — Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Capabilities
What we do in the lab
rAAV vector production
Construction, large-scale production, and purification of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors — including tyrosine-mutant serotypes for high transduction efficiency.
CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing
Development of advanced therapy products with CRISPR-Cas9 delivered via rAAV, including CRISPR-a (activation) to modulate expression without cutting DNA.
In vivo preclinical models
Murine and rat models for experimental glaucoma (limbal plexus cautery, optic nerve crush) and retinal degeneration.
Retinal functional analysis
Electroretinogram, visual acuity behavioral tests, flow cytometry, RNA-seq, Iso-Seq, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot.
Capsid engineering
Rational modification of the viral capsid with targeting peptides and tyrosine mutations to enhance cellular specificity.
Experimental mitotherapy
Isolation and transplantation of active exogenous mitochondria as a neuroprotective tool — in collaboration with the Institute of Medical Biochemistry (Galina Filho).
Team
The people behind LTGVV
Group leader
Hilda Petrs-Silva, PhD
Lab Director · Associate Professor IBCCF/UFRJ
CNPq Productivity Fellow in Technological Development · FAPERJ Scientist of Our State · Scientific Director ABTCELL-GEN.
Postdoctoral fellows
Caio Mota Machado, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow
Mitotherapy and glaucomatous neurodegeneration.
Mariana Santana Dias, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow (CAPES-PROBRAL · U. Göttingen)
Neuroprotective and regenerative therapeutic strategies.
Victor Guedes de Araújo, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow (FAPERJ)
rAAV mini-promoters for retinal ganglion cells.
Dio Pablo Alexandrino de Mattos, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow (CNPq)
Neurodegeneration models and functional assays.
PhD candidates
Gabriela Silva Almeida
PhD candidate in Biophysics (CAPES)
Neuroprotective and regenerative gene therapy with CRISPR-a and rAAV vectors.
Rômulo Morais Azevedo
PhD candidate in Biophysics
Comparing overexpression of neuroprotective genes in acute and chronic neurodegeneration via Iso-Seq.
Thais Costa Porto Marinho
PhD candidate in Biophysics (CNPq)
Combined gene therapy with MAX and NGN2 in axonal injury in vitro and in vivo.
Rafael de Freitas Azevedo
PhD candidate in Biophysics (CNPq)
Cannabinoid receptors in photoreceptors in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa.
Undergraduate researchers
Anna Catharina Milagres Machado
Undergraduate researcher (FAPERJ)
Plasmid cloning for rAAV vector production.
Alanna Figueiredo Guimarães
Undergraduate researcher (CNPq)
Ex-vivo model of retinal ganglion cell degeneration.
Pedro Henrique Gama Almeida
Undergraduate researcher
Gene therapy for glaucomatous neurodegeneration.
Rodrigo Martins Barros
Undergraduate researcher (CNPq · UNIRIO)
AAV-MAX gene therapy for glaucomatous neurodegeneration.