Researchers led by Maria Stamataki reported discovery of engineered adeno‑associated virus (AAV) variants that markedly improve transduction of human vascular endothelial cells. The work, published in Gene Therapy, identifies capsid modifications that enhance entry and expression in primary human vessel cells, addressing a longstanding delivery bottleneck for vascular gene therapies. Improved endothelial transduction could enable gene therapies for atherosclerosis, vascular malformations, and systemic delivery of secreted therapeutic proteins. The study includes in vitro and ex vivo human tissue data demonstrating higher gene expression and lower off‑target transduction compared with benchmark AAVs. Authors note remaining translational hurdles — immune responses, manufacturability, and in vivo biodistribution — but call the variants a platform to accelerate vascular‑targeted gene programs.