Dzau's current strategy is to use gene therapy to insert a cell-division inhibitor into the vein cells. This could prevent the veins from overgrowing thereby protecting the patients.

Dranoff, is also examining possible gene therapy treatments. He is using the technique to combat cancer, by enlisting the immune system in a full-blown barrage against every malignant cell in the body.

Dranoff, whose work is currently undergoing phase one clinical trials, is optimistic about the HGTI and its benefits.

The initiative is "an attempt to provide an organized structure to have people with common interests come together," Dranoff said.

The HGTI will combine a core laboratory with an affiliated network of researchers and four small facilities in participating hospitals.

This core lab will serve as a manufacturing facility for the viral vectors necessary to transfer foreign DNA into tissue cells. The facility frees them from the need to cajole private biotech firms into manufacturing the vectors at very high cost, Dranoff said, and allows for more exploratory and small-scale testing.

"Academics do a lot of things that industry wouldn't necessarily do at the beginning," Dranoff said.