Donald Kohn

Donald B. Kohn is a Professor in the Departments of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics (MIMG); Pediatric (Hematology/Oncology); and Molecular & Medical Pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he is Director of the Human Gene and Cell Therapy Program. He is a board-certified pediatrician with >30 years of experience in clinical bone marrow transplantation. Dr. Kohn’s principal area of research is the development and application of methods for gene therapy of blood cell diseases, such as Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) and Sickle Cell Disease using autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). His lab has investigated methods for optimal gene delivery and expression and, more recently, for direct gene editing with human HSC. He is the Sponsor of six investigator-initiated INDs for clinical trials of autologous transplant/gene therapy for genetic diseases and pediatric HIV/AIDS. Dr. Kohn was the recipient of a Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (2000-2007); is a past-President of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (2004) and the Clinical Immunology Society (2014); and was a member (and Chair) of the NIH OBA RAC (2010-2015).