Currently available gene therapy technologies rely on either plasmid DNA or viral vector transduction to enable gene transfer. However, such methods often suffer from poor direct expression and insufficient incorporation of foreign genetic material. This is likely due to the presence of a key exogenous DNA surveillance protein - IFI16. Research led by Dr. David Knipe at Harvard Medical School indicates that incorporating IFI16 modulators into existing gene therapies will enhance their potency, reducing the dose and thereby the costs and potential for toxicity. This technology can be developed further as a part of a collaborative project with the Knipe lab.