Dr. Denise Sabatino

Biography

Denise E. Sabatino, Ph.D., is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Genetics from Ohio State University in 1992 and received her Ph.D. in Genetics from George Washington University/National Institutes of Health in 2000. Dr. Sabatino's research focuses on gene-based therapies for treatment of hemophilia, a bleeding disorder caused by mutations in the factor VIII gene. Her laboratory is dedicated to studying coagulation factors, particularly variants of factor VIII, to understand their biochemical properties and identify novel variants with enhanced function. She aims to develop therapeutic approaches that allow for sustained expression of factor VIII, potentially reducing the need for frequent protein infusions and addressing the complications that arise from such treatments. Her early work included using adeno-associated viral vectors to deliver factor VIII in hemophilia dogs, achieving long-term therapeutic levels. Currently, her research investigates optimizing gene transfer methods and understanding the relationship between factor VIII expression and immune responses to develop innovative treatments for hemophilia.

Research Interests