In contrast, the effectiveness of an adenovirus vector wore off after about three weeks. Unlike nonviral carriers or an adenovirus, a retrovirus such as FIV has this ability. The UI study was funded by grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Children's Miracle Network telethon. McCray also received a Career Investigator Award from the American Lung Association. Davidson and Zabner are Fellows of the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal hereditary disease in the United States.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, CF affects approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. The disease occurs in approximately one of every 3,300 live births and is usually diagnosed in early childhood. Chest radiographs of people with cystic fibrosis almost always show hyperinflation due to obstruction of medium-sized and small airways. The disease causes serious lung and digestive problems due to malfunctioning ion channels that normally regulate salt and water secretions to protect the lungs. A team of University of Iowa Health Care investigators has advanced understanding of how gene therapy might effectively treat the serious lung function loss associated with the disease.