Katherine A. High, MD
Realizing the Promise of Gene Therapy: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities
Description
The American Society for Clinical Investigation is proud to present the ASCI Scientific Sessions: a spotlight on distinguished investigators and their contributions to biomedical research. The Scientific Sessions are free and open to all, with a goal to create a space for our community, beyond the ASCI’s annual meeting, to gather and celebrate discovery.
Katherine A. High, MD, is a physician-scientist with a longstanding interest in the development of gene therapy for genetic disease. Trained in internal medicine and hematology, Dr. High spent most of her career in academia, where she was a faculty member at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
In 2013 Dr. High co-founded Spark Therapeutics, where she led development of Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for a genetic disease, and of Beqvez, a gene therapy for hemophilia B. Dr. High now holds an appointment as a Visiting Professor at Rockefeller University, and serves as CEO of RhyGaze, a company focused on genetic medicines for serious disease. She also serves on the board of directors of CRISPR Therapeutics and Incyte Corporation, and is an advisor in the Life Sciences for GV (Google Ventures).
Dr. High is the recipient of many honors, including the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. She is an elected member of the ASCI (1991), the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the Royal College of Physicians.
This event will be moderated by David Ginsburg, MD, James V. Neel Distinguished University Professor and Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine, Human Genetics and Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Ginsburg served as ASCI President, 2001-2002. He was elected to the ASCI in 1989.