Researchers introduced two advances targeting key barriers to AAV gene therapy: a point‑of‑care (POC) test for AAV8 binding antibodies using Chembio’s Dual Path Platform, and discovery of AAV variants with improved transduction of human vascular endothelial cells. The POC assay detects anti‑AAV8 antibodies in plasma, serum and whole blood to streamline patient screening. The AAV variant study, published in Gene Therapy and led by Maria Stamataki, identifies capsids with enhanced tropism for human vascular cells—addressing low transduction efficiencies that limit vascular gene delivery. Together these technologies tackle preexisting immunity and vector potency, two major operational hurdles for systemic AAV programs. Clinical translation will require validation of the POC test’s predictive value for neutralization and scaled GMP characterization of candidate capsids. For developers, the combined tools could expand eligible populations and enable more targeted vascular gene therapies.