St. Jude Research

St. Jude Vector Laboratory (SJVL)

Advancing innovative viral vector technology for research and treatment of catastrophic pediatric diseases

Our laboratory is devoted to facilitating the use of viral vector systems at St. Jude. We have significant expertise and experience with the following viral vector systems:

  • Adeno-associated viral vectors (serotypes 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9) 
  • Retroviral vectors 
  • Lentiviral vectors  

Vector development by the numbers

Developed suspension cell line grown in serum-free media for production of clinical grade LV.

Vector development by the numbers

Significant cost savings for St. Jude investigators compared to outside providers (depending on source and other details cost savings can be as low as $400,000 or as high as $10,000,000). 

Vector development by the numbers

Developed Virus-like Particle packaging Cas9-sgRNA for editing primary T cells (expected to save >$500,000 per target compared to traditional Cas9-RNP) 

Vector development by the numbers

Produces over 1,000 vector preparations in support of St. Jude investigators each year.

OVERVIEW

The Vector Development and Production Shared Resource supports viral vector-related research at St. Jude with dedicated, separate laboratory space for DNA construction and virus production and an archive of well-characterized cellular and plasmid reagents. The lab assists St. Jude investigators by providing both small-scale and large-scale vector production services for lentiviral, gamma-retroviral and Adeno-associated viral vectors.

IMPACT

A portion of our laboratory efforts are devoted to assisting researchers in the production of viral vector technology at St. Jude. We accomplish this in several ways, the simplest of which is the provision of validated plasmid reagents which can be transfected into SJ293TS-DPB cells for production of virus or used for the insertion of genes to make new, transfectable vector plasmids. 

EQUIPMENT

  • (2) Cytiva Akta Avants (vector purification)
  • (2)  Beckman Coulter ultracentrifuges (vector concentration/purification)
  • Bio-Rad Autodg ddPCR system with two readers (titration/vector copy number determination)
  • Eppendorf epMotion 5075vt liquid handling robot (titration)
  • (2) Oxford Nanopore Minion (DNA/RNA sequencing)
  • (3) N-BioTek shaking incubators (culturing suspension cells for vector production). 

SERVICES

  • AAV, LV, & γRV Vector Requests
  • LV & γRV Production and Titration
  • AAV Production and Titration
  • Distributed Vector & Helper Plasmids
  • Recommended Protocols & Reagents
  • Vector Delivery and Charge Back to Cost Center

Director

photo of Robert Throm

Robert Throm, PhD

Director
robert.throm@stjude.org

Dr. Robert E. Throm is the Director of the Vector Laboratory at St. Jude. He earned a Ph.D. from the Indiana University School of Medicine with a specialization in Microbiology and Immunology, complemented by a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Indiana University. Since joining St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in 2001 Dr. Throm has been instrumental in advancing vector development, progressively assuming roles such as Senior Research Technologist and Scientific Manager, Clinical Vector Development, before becoming the Director in 2019. His pioneering work in designing and producing novel lentiviral and Adeno-associated viral vectors, including a revolutionary concatemeric array transfection technique, has significantly contributed to the vector field. Dr. Throm's dedication to biosafety and commitment to scientific progress position him as an invaluable asset to both St. Jude and the wider scientific community.

Meet the team

Clockwise from back row, left:
Jordan Beard, PhD, Lead Researcher
Brandon Lowe, PhD, Manager of Lab Operations
Francesca Ferrara, PhD, Scientist
Christopher Wincek, Lead Researcher
Matt Bauler, Lead Researcher
Robert Throm, PhD, Director
Matthew Wielgosz, PhD, Sr. Scientist-Managing.

Selected publications

Genetic alteration of SJ293TS cells and modification of serum-free media enhances lentiviral vector production
Bauler M, et al. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev, 2024
Integrome signatures of lentiviral gene therapy for SCID-X1 patients
Yan KK, et al. Sci Adv. 2023
Forced enhancer-promoter rewiring to alter gene expression in animal models
Peslak SA, et al. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids, 2023
Sustained fetal hemoglobin induction in vivo is achieved by BCL11A interference and coexpressed truncated erythropoietin receptor
Uchida N, Sci Transl Med, 2021
Antibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in Humans and Animals
Kim H, et al. Vaccines (Basel), 2020
Route of 41BB/41BBL costimulation determines effector function of B7-H3-CAR.CD28ζ T cells
Nguyen et al. Mol Ther Oncolytics, 2020
The art and science of selecting a CD123-specific chimeric antigen receptor for clinical testing
Riberdy et al. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev, 2020
Production of Lentiviral Vectors Using Suspension Cells Grown in Serum-free Media.
Bauler M, et al. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev . 2019
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