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Blood­brain barrier (BBB) gene-targeting technology allows for global non-viral gene transfer to the primate brain following an intravenous injection. A ß-galactosidase expression plasmid was encapsulated in the interior of anionic liposomes, which were targeted to neurons with a monoclonal antibody specific for the insulin receptor. The antibody acts as a molecular Trojan horse to ferry the liposome-encapsulated gene across both the blood-brain barrier and the neuronal cell membrane. The photo shows the histochemistry of a rhesus monkey brain slice obtained two days after a single intravenous injection of a liposome containing the ß-galactosidase plasmid. There is widespread expression of the exogenous gene (visualized in blue) throughout the primate brain. For details on the development of BBB-traversing technologies and how to utilize the transport systems associated with the BBB, see the Review in this issue by Pardridge, pages 90-105.