Faculty & Staff
Richard Heller
Introduction
EDUCATION
- Leadership Institute – University of South Florida Health 2006-2007
- PhD Medical Sciences, 1989, University of South Florida -Tampa, Florida
- MS Medical Sciences, 1988, University of South Florida - Tampa, Florida
- MS Health Sciences, 1984, Long Island University - Long Island, New York
- BS Microbiology 1979, Oregon State University - Corvallis Oregon
RESEARCH AREAS
The major focus is to develop effective drug and gene delivery. The emphasis is on
translational studies that include the development and testing of new protocols or
devices that can be utilized for potential therapies for cancer, wound healing, metabolic
disorders and vascular diseases (peripheral and coronary ischemia) as well as vaccine
and immunotherapy protocols.
Memberships
- American Association for Immunology
- American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy – 2009-2013 Chair, Scientific Committee Non-Viral Gene Transfer
- International Society for Electroporation based Technologies and Treatments – 2016-18 – President Elect; 2018-2020 – President; 2020-2022 – Past-President
- IEEE EMBS – Senior Member
- Society for In Vitro Biology – Fellow; 1996-2000 – Executive Board; 2002-2008 - Treasurer
- American Society for Microbiology
- Bioelectromagnetics Society
- Society for Melanoma Research
- American Association for Advancement in Science
- National Academy of Inventors
RESEARCH GRANTS
National Institutes of Health (NIBIB) RO1; “Controlled Delivery of Plasmid DNA via Low-Temperature Ion Deposition”
National institutes of Health (NIGMS) R41;”Identification of impedance measurement devices, heating hardware, and operating parameters to augment instrumentation for a commercial in vivo electroporation system”
Honors and Awards
- ODU Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement Award - 2018
- IEEE Senior Member - 2017
- Eminent Scholar Designation, ODU - 2017
- Frank Reidy Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Bioelectronics - 2013
- Tampa Bay Business Journal Health Heroes Finalist - 2007
- Biotechnology Award, USF Health Sciences Center - 2006
- Society for In Vitro Biology Distinguished Serivce Award - 2005
- Society for In Vitro Biology Fellow Award - 2004
- Iwao Yasuda Award from Socity for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine - 2004
- Biotechnology Achievement Award, USF Health Sciences - 2003
- External Reviewer (Chair) fir Dissertation Defense Per Engstrom, Lund, Sweden - 1999
- Robert J. Grasso Award for Outstanding Dedication to Graduate Education - 1992
- Hnoor B. Fell Award, Tissue Culture Association - 1989
- Tissue Culture Association Student Travel Award - 1989
- First place, USF College of Medicince Research Symposium - 1989
- Bennett Sallman Award, American Society for Microbiology Florida Branch - 1988
- Second Place, USF College of Medicine Ressearch Symposium - 1987
- USF Sigma XI Research Award - 1987
- Travel Award, Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine - 1986
- Graduate Registration Fellowship, USF - 1987
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Sales Conniff, A.; Singh, J.; Heller, R.; Heller, L.C. Pulsed Electric Fields Induce STING Palmitoylation and Polymerization Independently of Plasmid DNA Electrotransfer. Pharmaceutics 2024, 16, 363. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16030363
Oshin, E.A., Minhas, Z., Biancatelli, R.M.L.C. et al. Synergistic effects of nanosecond pulsed plasma and electric field on inactivation of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Sci Rep 14, 885 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51298-y
Shi, G.; Scott, M.; Mangiamele, C.G.; Heller, R. Modification of the Tumor Microenvironment Enhances Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma. Pharmaceutics 2022, 14, 2429. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14112429
Carly Boye, Sezgi Arpag, Michael Francis, Scott DeClemente, Aislin West, Richard Heller, Anna Bulysheva, Reduction of plasmid vector backbone length enhances reporter gene expression, Bioelectrochemistry, Volume 144, 2022
Edelblute, C.; Mangiamele, C.; Heller, R. Moderate Heat-Assisted Gene Electrotransfer as a Potential Delivery Approach for Protein Replacement Therapy through the Skin. Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 1908. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13111908
Edelblute C, Mangiamele C, Heller R. Moderate Heat-Assisted Gene Electrotransfer for Cutaneous Delivery of a DNA Vaccine Against Hepatitis B Virus. Hum Gene Ther. 2021 Nov;32(21-22):1360-1369. doi: 10.1089/hum.2021.037. Epub 2021 Jun 9. PMID: 33926214; PMCID: PMC8819511.
Jiang C, Oshin EA, Guo S, Scott M, Li X, Mangiamele C, Heller R. Synergistic effects of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet and pulsed electric field on cells and skin. IEEE Trans Plasma Sci IEEE Nucl Plasma Sci Soc. 2021 Nov;49(11):3317-3324. doi: 10.1109/tps.2021.3113260. Epub 2021 Sep 30. PMID: 34898731; PMCID: PMC8653988.
Bhatia S, Longino NV, Miller NJ, Kulikauskas RM, Iyer JG, Ibrani D, Blom A, Byrd DR, Parvathaneni U, Twitty CG, Campbell JS, Le MH, Gargosky S, Pierce RH, Heller R, Daud AI, Nghiem P. Intratumoral delivery of plasmid interleukin-12 via electroporation leads to regression of injected and non-injected tumors in Merkel cell carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res., 26(3):598-607, 2020