Christopher D. Porada, PhD

Department: Animal Biotechnology
Academic Unit:  CABNR
Title: Associate Professor
Professional degrees (Degree, year, Institution):
BA, Molecular Biology, Colgate University, 1991
PhD, Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, UNR, 1998

Contact Information

Mail Stop: 202
Phone: 784-6750        
Fax: 784-1375
E-mail: cporada@cabnr.unr.edu

http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/AB/Faculty_Staff_Details.aspx?hIj7_GDp0x45=283

Research Area(s)

Gene Therapy, Stem Cell-Based Gene Delivery, Immunology of Gene Therapy

Research Interests

My research interests are focused on developing methods of safely and efficiently performing gene therapy before to birth, thus allowing correction of genetic disorders prior to the onset of disease and resultant tissue damage.  We are currently exploring two main approaches to achieve these objectives.  The first of these is the development of novel gene delivery systems that allow targeting of specific cell types following direct administration of viral-based vectors to the fetus.  The second approach we are investigating is using genetically modified stem cells as gene delivery vehicles.  These technologies are then being tested in a preclinical large animal model of the bleeding disorder Hemophilia A.

Current Graduate Students

Joe Tellez, CMB

Other Lab Members

Nick Tschernia, Biochemistry

Selected Publications

Park PJ, Colletti E, Ozturk F, Wood JA, Tellez J, Almeida-Porada G, Porada C. Factors Determining the Risk of Inadvertent Retroviral Transduction of Male Germ Cells Following in Utero Gene Transfer in Sheep. Human Gene Therapy 20(3):201-15, 2009.  

  1. Porada C.D., Harrison-Findik D.D., Sanada S., Valiente V., Thain D., Simmons P.J., Almeida-Porada G., Zanjani E.D. 2008, Development and characterization of a novel CD34 monoclonal antibody that identifies sheep hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Experimental Hematology 36(12):1739-49, 2008.  

  2. Colletti E, Lindstedt S, Park PJ, Almeida-Porada G, Porada CD. Early fetal gene delivery utilizes both central and peripheral mechanisms of tolerance induction. Experimental Hematology 36(7):816-22, 2008.

  3. Porada CD, Zanjani ED, Almeida-Porada G. Adult mesenchymal stem cells: a pluripotent population with multiple applications. Curr. Stem Cell Res. Ther. 1(3):365-9, 2006.

  4. Porada, C.D., Park, P.J., Almeida-Porada, G., Liu, W., Ozturk, F., Glimp, H.A., Zanjani, E.D. Gestational age of recipient determines pattern and level of transgene expression following in utero retroviral gene transfer. Molecular Therapy 11(2): 284-293, 2005.

  5. Porada, C.D., Park, P.J., Tellez, J., Ozturk, F., Glimp, H.A., Almeida-Porada, G., Zanjani, E.D. Male germline cells are at risk following direct injection retroviral-mediated gene transfer in utero. Molecular Therapy 12(4):754-62, 2005.