Faculty

Beverly L. Davidson, Ph.D.

Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
3501 Civic Center Boulevard, 5060 CTRB
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Office: 267-426-0929
Lab: 267-425-2162

Email:
davidsonbl@chop.edu

Education:
B.S. (Biology Major/Chemistry Minor; High Distinction)
Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1981.
Ph.D. (Biological Chemistry)
University of Michigan, 1987.

Links
https://www.thedavidsonlab.com

Permanent link

> Perelman School of Medicine > Faculty > Details

Description of Research Expertise

Keywords:
Neurodegenerative Disease
RNA biology
Gene therapy
Animal models
Human treatment

Our lab is focused on genetic diseases that affect the brain. We study the mechanisms by which mutant gene products contribute to disease, and why certain brain regions are more susceptible. The team employs advanced molecular methods, sequencing and imaging modalities in animal models. The lab is also engaged in the development of next generation therapeutics for inherited disorders, including the engineering of novel gene therapy vector capsids and cargo to approach tissue and cell type specific treatments.

Selected Publications

Chamberlain JS, Davidson BL, George LA, Bryne BJ, Barrett D: The future of gene therapy: Safer vectors, sharper focus: High-profile failures demand deep root cause analysis - but the transformative potential of AAV remains within reach if the field is willing to learn and evolve. Mol Ther 33(10): 4694-4695, Oct 2025.

Sichlinger L, Reilly MB, Arora S, Zhang S, Marotta N, Rodriguez-Acevedo KL, Hooks M, Czarnecki KS, Winter JJ, Waxman EA, Dungan LV, Hong I, Araki Y, Johnson R, Huganir RL, Pavani G, French DL, Davidson BL, Prosser BL, Heller EA: CRISPR-mediated transcriptional activation as a mutation-independent therapeutic strategy for SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability. bioRxiv Oct 2025 Notes: doi: 10.1101/2025.10.28.685100.

Amado DA, Robbins AB, Whiteman KR, Smith AR, Chillon G, Chen Y, Fuller JA, Patty NA, Izda A, Cheng C, Nelson S, Dichter AI, Mazzoni EO, Monteys AM, Davidson BL: Author Correction: AAV-based delivery of RNAi targeting ataxin-2 improves survival and pathology in TDP-43 mice. Nat Commun 16(1): 9356, Oct 2025.

Carrell ST, Carrell EM, Giovenco R, Davidson BL: Co-Opting MBNL-Dependent Alternative Splicing Cassette Exons to Control Gene Therapy in Myotonic Dystrophy. Ann Neurol Aug 2025 Notes: doi: 10.1002/ana.78024. Epub ahead of print.

Amado DA, Robbins AB, Whiteman KR, Smith AR, Chillon G, Chen Y, Fuller JA, Patty NA, Izda A, Cheng C, Nelson S, Dichter AI, Mazzone EO, Montey AM, Davidson BL: AAV-based delivery of RNAi targeting ataxin-2 improves survival and pathology in TDP-43 mice. Nat Commun 16(1): 5334, June 2025.

Giovenco R, Carrell E, Nelson S, Tecedor L, Lysenko E, Keiser M, Davidson B: Delivery of miRNA by Self-Complimentary AAV Provides ATXN1 Knockdown in SCA1 Mice and Supports Therapeutic Translation Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, New Orleans, LA(Abstract #495), May 2025.

Cooney A, Chen Y, Lewandowski B, Lamar S, Newase P, Kulhankova K, Davidson B, McCray P: Peptide insertions enhance AAV capsid tropism for airway epithelia. Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, New Orleans, LA(Abstract #1523), May 2025.

Leib D, Villa K, Tecedor L, McFadden M, Mackiewicz A, Yohrling G, Davidson B, Cha J-H: A Non-GLP Dose Range Finding Study in Cynomolgus Macaques Evaluating the Biodistribution, Expression, and Safety of LTS-101, a Novel Preclinical Gene Therapy Candidate for the Treatment of CLN2 Batten Disease Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, New Orleans, LA(Abstract #521), May 2025.

Lingren J, Chen Y, Lewandowski B, Davidson B, Sabatino D: Identification of bioengineered AAV capsids with enhanced targeting of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, New Orleans, LA(Abstract #511), May 2025.

Kuckyr M, Amado D, Davidson B: Base Editing Premature Stop Codons Within the ATXN2 Repeat Reduces Pathogenic Polyglutamine Proteins. Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy(Abstract #1103), May 2025.