Two gene‑therapy enabling advances appeared: a point‑of‑care test for AAV8‑binding antibodies built on Chembio’s Dual Path Platform, and discovery of AAV variants that markedly improve transduction of human vascular endothelial cells. The rapid AAV8 antibody assay aims to identify preexisting humoral immunity at the bedside, reducing screen‑failures and streamlining patient selection for systemic AAV therapies. Separately, a Gene Therapy paper reported engineered AAV variants with enhanced vascular cell tropism—tools that could broaden gene‑delivery applications in cardiovascular and vascular‑related diseases. Together, the diagnostic and vector innovations address two persistent barriers to systemic AAV clinical translation: preexisting immunity and poor endothelial transduction.