Dr Richard Harbottle

Richard Harbottle graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an Honours degree in Biochemistry before going on to St. Mary’s Hospital medical school in London to complete an MSc. degree in Human Molecular Genetics in the department of Professor Bob Williamson. Subsequently he began a PhD in the Gene Therapy Research group at St. Mary’s (now Imperial College London) led by Professor Charles Coutelle where he develped non-viral gene delivery vectors based on integrin targeting peptides which complexed DNA via short oligo lysine chains.

During his early post-doctoral research he continued developing both extra and intracellular targeting systems based on alternative small peptides. Latterly, he and his group have concentrated on  the development of DNA technologies for gene therapy with particular focus on the application of scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR) vectors. The ultimate aim of this research is to produce therapeutically relevant, minimally sized, perpetually expressing and autosomally replicating DNA molecules.

Richard Harbottle is a founding member of the British Society for Gene therapy and has served on its executive board since its inception. Additionally he is an active member of the American and European Gene Therapy Societies.

Work in the lab is currently funded by the Myrovlytis Trust

Selected Publications