Leszek Lisowski

Associate Professor Leszek Lisowski is affiliated with the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) at the University of Sydney. He holds the roles of Conjoint Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor, focusing on viral vector development for gene therapy applications, particularly using adeno-associated viruses (AAV). His research emphasizes enhancing AAV tropism for liver, cardiac, and CNS targets, with a strong focus on translational medicine.

Key research areas include AAV capsid engineering, optimization of liver and cardiac gene delivery, and applications in neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He leads projects funded by grants such as the NHMRC Ideas Grant and the Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Current research student Ahmad Hammoud is investigating novel AAV capsids for cardiac gene therapy. His work spans collaborations in optogenetics, CAR-T cell engineering, and liver perfusion models.

Notable publications highlight advancements in AAV genome structure, liver fibrosis impact on gene transfer, and hydrogel-mediated viral vector protection. His contributions bridge virology, molecular biology, and clinical translation, aiming to address unmet needs in genetic disorders and cancer therapies.