Researchers unveiled a point‑of‑care test for AAV8 binding antibodies and reported discovery of AAV variants with improved transduction of human vascular endothelial cells, expanding tools to manage preexisting immunity and target vascular indications. The AAV8 antibody assay, built on Chembio’s Dual Path Platform, detects binding antibodies in plasma, serum, and whole blood to rapidly screen patients for eligibility in AAV‑based trials. Separately, teams identified novel AAV capsids that enhance transduction of human vascular cells, a critical step for in‑vivo vascular gene therapies. Combined, these advances reduce two major obstacles for systemic AAV programs: patient exclusion due to antibodies and inefficient endothelial transduction. Developers targeting cardiovascular and vascular‑delivered gene therapies may adopt both assays and engineered capsids to improve enrollment and efficacy.