26 Jul 2022

Sheep help the trial of life enhancing gene therapy

From Morning Report, 7:55 am on 26 July 2022

A human clinical trial of a potentially life enhancing gene therapy has started thanks to some very special sheep from Lincoln University.

Batten disease is a devastating neurological condition which toddlers inherit and leads to seizures, blindness, inability to walk and death.

Research in Canterbury managed to curb the disease in sheep and now an American university and genetic medicine company are recruiting subjects.

Sally Wenley spoke to a mum whose daughter had the disease.