If stem cells are treated, patients might expect lasting benefit as their bodies automatically pass on the correctly functioning CFTR gene to their "daughter" cells.
They started at the crime scene by genetically testing patients with pancreatitis and tracing the process, step by step, to the prime suspect -- that same CFTR gene.
There are two CFTR gene introduction mechanisms involved, the first use of a viral vector (adenovirus, adeno-associated virus or retro virus) and secondly the use of liposome.