Pediatrics

Training

• Ph.D., University of Florida
• B.S., Texas A&M University

Research Overview

As the Director of the National Gene Vector Laboratory (NGVL) Toxicology Center at the University of Florida, Dr. Conlon facilitates efficient, cost-effective, and rigorous preclinical testing of gene therapy vectors, with a special emphasis on recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors. His team performs preclinical studies on subjects ranging from mice to swine and primates that have supported the successful Investigational New Drug submissions for phase I trials of rAAV in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency, congestive heart failure (CHF) and Leber Congenital Amaurosis (RPE65). UF has taken the lead in sharing those preclinical data with the NGVL by depositing data in the rAAV drug master file (DMF). The development of centralized core facilities for vector production, animal toxicology, pathology, and biostatistics/bioinformatics has allowed these procedures to proceed more efficiently.

About

Dr. Conlon is a native Texan with roots in Dallas. Having received his BS in Genetics from the Texas A&M University under the tutelage of James R. Wild, PhD, Thomas moved to Gainesville in order to begin his graduate education in the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences (IDP) with a concentration in genetics. His thesis entitled Hepatocyte Transduction by Recombinant Adeno-associated Virus as an Appraoch to Gene Therapy for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders was earned under the direction of Dr. Terry Flotte in 2004. Following graduation, he took the position of Director of the National Gene Vector Laboratory where he has served since as well as being a faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics.

Key Publications

Additional publications can be found in PubMed.

1. Brantly ML, Spencer LT, Humphries M, Conlon TJ, Spencer CT, Poirier A, Garlington W, Baker D, Song S, Berns KI, Muzyczka N, Snyder RO, Byrne BJ, Flotte TR. Phase I trial of intramuscular injection of a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 alphal-antitrypsin (AAT) vector in AAT-deficient adults. Hum Gene Ther. 2006 Dec;17(12):1177-86.
2. Conlon TJ, Cossette T., Erger K, Choi YK, Clarke T, Scott-Jorgensen M, Song S, Campbell-Thompson M., Crawford J, Flotte TR. Efficient hepatic delivery and expression from a recombinant adeno-associated 8 pseudotyped alpha1-antitrypsin vector. Mol Ther. 2005 Nov;12(5):867-75.
3. Conlon TJ, Walter G, Owen R, Cossette T, Erger K, Gutierrez G, Goetzman E, Matern D, Vockley J, Flotte TR. Systemic correction of a fatty acid oxidation defect by intramuscular injection of a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector. Hum Gene Ther. 2006 Jan;17(1):71-80.
4. Jacobson SG, Boye SL, Aleman TS, Conlon TJ, Zeiss CJ, Roman AJ, Cideciyan AV, Schwartz SB, Komaromy AM, Doobrajh M, Cheung AY, Sumaroka A, Pearce-Kelling SE, Aguirre GD, Kaushal S, Maguire AM, Flotte TR, Hauswirth WW. Safety in nonhuman primates of ocular AAV2-RPE65, a candidate treatment for blindness in Leber congenital amaurosis. Hum Gene Ther. 2006 Aug;17(8):845-58.
5. Jacobson SG, Acland GM, Aguirre GD, Aleman TS, Schwartz SB, Cideciyan AV, Zeiss CJ, Komaromy AM, Kaushal S, Roman AJ, Windsor EA, Sumaroka A, Pearce-Kelling SE, Conlon TJ, Chiodo VA, Boye SL, Flotte TR, Maguire AM, Bennett J, Hauswirth WW. Safety of recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2-RPE65 vector delivered by ocular subretinal injection. Mol Ther. 2006 Jun;13(6):1074-84. Epub 2006 Apr 27.