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 Andrew C. Wilber, Ph.D.
Department of Surgery
911 N. Rutledge, Rm. 1329
Springfield, IL 62794
(217) 545-8098
awilber@siumed.edu
Andrew Wilber, Ph.D. has joined the faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine as an assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Urology. Prior to joining the department, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Experimental Hematology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. (2007).
Wilber completed his doctoral studies in the department of Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis (2006). He earned his bachelor’s in Biology and Chemistry at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. (1996).
He is a member of the American Society of Gene Therapy and the International Society of Experimental Hematology. He has published several journal articles and book chapters. His research interest is applying molecular genetic methods to the treatment of bladder and prostate cancer. In addition, he maintains a collaboration with Dr. Arthur Nienhuis at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The goals of this project are to (1) test potential “activating factors” of the gamma-globin gene in hematopoietic stem cells and (2) to develop lentiviral vectors capable of conferring therapeutic levels of gamma-globin gene expression in erythroid cells following hematopoietic stem cell gene transfer. A positive response for either of these approaches could be used as a potential gene-based therapy for individuals with inherited forms of anemia (including Sickle Cell Anemia and Beta-Thallasemia).
A native of Dawson, Wilber is married to Tiffany and has three children.
University of Minnesota; Minneapolis, Minnesota 9/02 – 9/06
Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, and Genetics G.P.A.: 3.36/4.0
Millikin University; Decatur, Illinois 8/92 – 5/96
B.S. in Biology and Chemistry G.P.A.: 3.59/4.0
Postdoctoral Fellow; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
RESEARCH ADVISOR: DR. ARTHUR NIENHUIS
GENE THERAPY FOR HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES
• In vitro generation of red blood cells from human and non-human primate
hematopoietic stem cells for evaluating fetal and adult globin gene expression. Stable, non-viral gene transfer for correction of mouse models of human disease
• HIV- and SIV-based lentiviral transduction of adult hematopoietic stem cells for
gain-of-function and loss-of function studies for maintenance of fetal hemoglobin
• Effect of perturbed expression of chromatin remodeling factors on differentiation
of hematopoietic stem cells in mouse model systems
Pre-Clinical Evaluation of the Sleeping Beauty Transposon System for Gene Therapy
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
RESEARCH ADVISOR: DR. R. SCOTT MCIVOR
• Stable, non-viral gene transfer for treatment of mouse models of human liver disease
• Genetic engineering of adult and embryonic stem cells for stable transgene expression
• Engineering of transposase-encoding messenger RNA for transposon-mediated
gene transfer and stable expression in somatic cells and tissues
RECIPIENT OF DOCTORAL DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP 7/05 - 7/06
RECIPIENT OF NIGMS TRAINING GRANT IN BIOTECHNOLOGY (T32 GM08347) 7/03 - 7/05
Gene therapy safety and efficacy studies, Gene expression regulation,
Stable gene delivery using non-viral and viral integrating vector systems
- Molecular: DNA cloning, Northern & Southern hybridization, Western, Immunohistochemisty.
- Cellular: Tissue culture (primary stem cells & cell lines), Flow cytometry analysis.
- Animals: Dissections, Bone marrow harvest, Intravenous injections.
Researcher II; SIU School of Medicine; Springfield, IL 1/00 – 8/02
• Evaluate the role of DNase gene products in lupus susceptibility by identifying
sequence variants of DNASE 1-like-3 in humans and mice with lupus
• Compare expression and activity of mutant and wild-type DNASE1-like-3 proteins
• Determine the effect of the DNASE 1-like-3 proteins on liposomal transfection
Microbiologist I; Taylor Pharmaceuticals; Decatur, IL 9/98 – 8/99
• Maintain QC/QA of injectable and ophthalmic pharmaceutical products using
bioburden, endotoxin, bacterial retention, and environmental monitoring studies
• Plan and perform investigations of failing product results
• Develop and validate novel microbiological test methods
Research Assistant; Megan Health Incorporated, St. Louis, MO 8/96 - 8/98
• Development of novel mechanisms for biological containment and attenuation
of live Salmonella vaccine strains
• Evaluate vaccine strain stability and antigen expression in vitro
• Conduct in vivo pathogenicity, safety, and efficacy studies in mice and chickens
St. Jude 2nd Annual Postdoctoral Fellows Retreat Best Oral Presentation (2007)
NIH/NCI 1st Annual National Graduate Student Research Festival (2006)
Dirk van Bekkum Award International Society of Experimental Hematology (2006)
Student Travel Award: International Society of Experimental Hematology (2006)
Excellence in Research Award: American Society of Gene Therapy (2006)
Student Travel Award: American Society of Gene Therapy (2006)
University of Minnesota Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (2005-2006)
National Institutes of Health -- NIGMS Training Grant in Biotechnology (T32 GM08347) (2003-2005)
Millikin University Undergraduate Research Award (1996)
Sigma Zeta National Science and Mathematics Honor Society (1993-1996)
Alpha Epsilon Delta National Pre-Medical Honor Society (1993-1996)
George C. McClelland and Birk’s Memorial Biology Scholarships (1993-1996)
Alpha Lambda Delta National Freshman and Sophomore Honor Society (1993-1994)
American Society of Gene Therapy (2005-present)
International Society of Experimental Hematology (2006-present)
1. A. Wilber, F. Ulloa Montoya, L. Hammer, C.M. Verfaillie, R.S. McIvor, and U. Lakshmipathy. Efficient
non-viral integration and stable gene expression in multipotent adult progenitor cells. (Submitted Stem Cells).
2. K.J. Wangensteen, A. Wilber, V.W. Keng, Y. Chen, I. Matise, L. Wangensteen, C.J. Steer, R.S. McIvor,
D.A. Largaespada, X. Wang, and S.C. Ekker. Genetic manipulation of the liver. (Accepted Hepatology).
3. A. Wilber, J.L. Linehan, X. Tian, P.S. Woll, J.K. Morris, L.R. Belur, R.S. McIvor, and D.S. Kaufman. (2007) Efficient and stable transgene expression in human embryonic stem cells using transposon-mediated gene transfer. Stem Cells 25: 2919-2927.
4. A. Wilber, K.J. Wangensteen, Y. Chen, L. Zhou, J.L., Frandsen, J. Bell, Z.J. Chen, S.C. Ekker, R.S. McIvor, and X. Wang. (2007) Messenger RNA as a source of transposase for Sleeping Beauty transposon-mediated correction of Hereditary Tyrosinemia type I. Mol. Ther. 15: 1280-1287.
5. D. Balciunas, K.J. Wangensteen, A. Wilber, S. Sivasubbu, J. Bell, A.M. Geurts, P.B. Hackett, D.A. Largaespada, R.S. McIvor, and S.C. Ekker. (2006) Harnessing an efficient large cargo-capacity transposon
for gene therapy applications. PLoS Genetics. 2: e169.
6. A.M. Geurts, A. Wilber, C.M. Carlson, P.D. Lobitz, K.J. Clark, P.B. Hackett, R.S. McIvor, and D.A. Largaespada. (2006) Conditional gene expression in the mouse using a Sleeping Beauty gene-trap transposon. BMC Biotechnol. 6: 30.
7. A. Wilber, J.L. Frandsen, J.L. Geurts, D.A. Largaespada, P.B. Hackett, and R.S. McIvor. (2006) RNA as a source of transposase for Sleeping Beauty-mediated gene insertion and expression in somatic cells and tissues. Mol. Ther. 13: 625-630.
8. X. Haung, A. Wilber, L. Bao, D. Tuong, J. Tolar, P.J. Orchard, B.L. Levine, C.H. June, R.S. McIvor, B.R. Blazar, and X. Zhou. (2005) Stable gene transfer and expression in human primary T-cells by the Sleeping Beauty transposon. Blood. 107: 483-491.
9. A. Wilber, J.L. Frandsen, K.J. Wangensteen, S.C. Ekker, X. Wang, and R.S. McIvor. (2005) Dynamic gene expression following systemic delivery of plasmid DNA as determined by in vivo bioluminescent imaging. Hum. Gene Ther. 16: 1325-1332.
10. A. Wilber, T.P. O’Connor, M.L. Lu, A. Karimi, and M.C. Schneider. (2003) DNase1l3 deficiency in lupus-prone MRL and NZB/W F1 mice. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 134: 46-52.
11. A. Wilber, M. Lu, and M.C. Schneider. (2002) Deoxyribonuclease I-like-III is an inducible macrophage barrier to liposomal transfection. Mol. Ther. 6: 35-42.
1. Wilber, A., Tolar, J., Blazar, B.R., Verfaillie, C.M., Lakshmipathy, U., Kaufman, D.S., and McIvor, R.S. Non-viral methods and current challenges: Sleeping Beauty Transposons. (In preparation; Emerging Technology for Stem Cells)
2. Belur, L.R., McIvor, R.S., and Wilber, A. (2007) Liver-directed gene therapy using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system. (In Press; Methods Mol. Biol.).
1. D. Balciunas, K. Wangensteen K, A. Wilber, R.S. McIvor, and S.C. Ekker. Transposon and Methods of Use. Filed April 28, 2006. University of Minnesota Docket # Z06187.
2. A. Wilber and M.C. Schneider. Therapeutic regulation of Deoxyribonuclease-1-like-3 activity. U.S. Patent No. 359,619 (February 26, 2003).
1. A. Wilber, K.J. Wangensteen, Y. Chen, L. Zhou, J.L. Frandsen, J. Bell, Z.J. Chen, S.C. Ekker, R.S. McIvor, and X. Wang. (2006) Correction of murine model of hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 using messenger RNA as a source of transposase for Sleeping Beauty-mediated integration of the FAH gene. Mol. Ther., Suppl. 13(1) #405.
2. A. Wilber, J.L. Linehan, X. Tian, P. Woll, J. Morris, R.S. McIvor, and D.S. Kaufman. (2006) Use of the Sleeping Beauty transposon system for genetic engineering of human embryonic stem cell-derived hematopoietic cells. Exp. Hematol., Suppl. 34(1): #106.
3. A. Wilber, K.J. Wangensteen, Y. Chen, L. Zhou, J.L. Frandsen, J. Bell, Z.J. Chen, S.C. Ekker, R.S. McIvor, and X. Wang. (2006) Messenger RNA as a source of transposase for Sleeping Beauty transposon-mediated correction of hereditary tyrosinemia type 1. 4th Annual International Conference on Transposition and Animal Biotechnology.
4. A. Wilber, K.J. Wangensteen, Y. Chen, L. Zhou, J.L. Frandsen, J. Bell, Z.J. Chen, S.C. Ekker, R.S. McIvor, and X. Wang. (2006) Correction of murine model of hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 using messenger RNA as a source of transposase for Sleeping Beauty-mediated integration of the FAH gene. Mol. Ther., Suppl. 13(1) #405.
5. A. Wilber, J.L. Linehan, X. Tian, P. Woll, J. Morris, R.S. McIvor, and D.S. Kaufman. (2006) Effective genetic engineering of human embryonic stem cells using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system. Mol. Ther., Suppl. 13(1) #95.
6. A. Wilber, L. Hammer, S. Buckley, F. Montoya, A.M. Geurts, D.A. Largaespada, C. Verfaillie, U.
7. Lakshmipathy, and R.S. McIvor. (2005) Direct comparison of integration efficiency and stable gene expression mediated by the Sleeping Beauty transposon system and by the PhiC31 phage integrase system in cultured human fibroblasts and in various stem cell targets. 3rd Annual International Conference on Transposition and Animal Biotechnology.
8. A. Wilber, J. Frandsen, and R. S. McIvor. (2004) In vivo imaging of promoter strength in the mouse liver following systemic delivery of plasmid DNA. 3rd Annual Gene Therapy Symposium for Heart, Lung, and Blood Disease.
9. A. Wilber, J. Frandsen, L. Belur, P. Score, J. Geurts, D. Largaespada, P. Hackett, and R.S. McIvor. (2004) RNA as a source of transposase for Sleeping Beauty-mediated transposition and long-term expression in somatic cells and tissues. Mol. Ther., Suppl. 9(1) #1042.
10. A. Wilber, M. Lu, and M.C. Schneider. (2001) Deoxyribonuclease 1-like-3 is an inducible macrophage barrier to liposomal transfection. 2nd Annual SIU Combined Research Symposium.
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