Dr. Gallo, who discovered the first human RNA
virus linked to cancer and co-discovered HIV, effectively saving
millions of lives, will focus his work at Tampa General on
identifying novel therapeutic targets for difficult-to-treat
cancers related to microorganisms.
TAMPA,
Fla., July 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa
General Hospital (TGH) welcomes one of the world's most celebrated
scientists and researchers to lead the newly established Microbial
Oncology Program at the TGH Cancer Institute. Dr. Robert C. Gallo, considered one of the best
biomedical scientists in American history and the most referenced
scientist in the world for a decade (1980-1990), joined Tampa
General on July 8 as founder and
director of the Microbial Oncology Program at the TGH Cancer
Institute and senior scientific advisor to the executive director
of the TGH Cancer Institute.
Gallo has the unique distinction of twice winning America's most
prestigious scientific award — the Albert
Lasker Award in Medicine — in 1982 and 1986. Gallo was the
most referenced scientist in the world in the 1980s and 1990s and
ranked third in the world for scientific impact from 1983 to 2002.
Among his many seminal contributions to science, Gallo was the
first to identify a human retrovirus and the only known human
leukemia virus, HTLV-1, shown to cause a human cancer.
"We are honored to welcome one of the most celebrated, most
cited and most award-winning scientists to our world-class team at
Tampa General," said John Couris,
president and CEO of Tampa General. "The addition of Dr.
Robert C. Gallo to the TGH Cancer
Institute marks a new era for Tampa General and for the state of
Florida. Patients will have direct
access to his research findings and our providers will benefit from
his skills and knowledge."
Gallo and his colleagues also discovered interleukin-2 (IL-2),
the first cytokine used as therapy for some forms of cancers. These
pioneering discoveries by Gallo led other scientists in more recent
years to successfully produce chimeric antigen receptor T- cells
(CAR T-cells), a therapy that is providing cures for patients with
some types of blood cancers.
"I am enthusiastic about the leadership at Tampa General and
USF, and I am drawn to new, exciting and important endeavors,
such as the efforts led by Dr. (Eduardo) Sotomayor and his colleagues at
the TGH Cancer Institute and USF," said Gallo. "My co-workers and I
are happy to join this rising institution in cancer research,
and we look forward to helping it reach the next phase of its
success. The tools are in place. The leaders are dedicated. The
talent is present and growing."
In 1984, Gallo determined HIV-1 as the cause of Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). He pioneered the development of the HIV
blood test for identifying infected individuals and protecting the
blood supply.
Given his unprecedented scientific productivity, Gallo received
numerous scientific honors and awards, including membership in the
National Academy of Sciences and 35 honorary doctorates from the
most prestigious academic and scientific institutions in the world.
He will be one of few members of the National Academy of Sciences
working in an academic institution in the state of Florida and the only one in the Tampa Bay region.
"It is a true privilege to welcome a scientist, a pioneer and a
mentor of the stature of Dr. Gallo to the scientific team at the
TGH Cancer Institute as we embark on our journey to apply for the
coveted NCI-designation within the decade," said Sotomayor, vice
president and executive director of the TGH Cancer Institute. "With
Dr. Gallo on our team, we will advance groundbreaking research to
not just treat our patients, but defeat cancer once and for
all."
At the TGH Cancer Institute, Gallo will focus his research on
viruses causing cancer and bacterial proteins and products that he
and his scientific group have demonstrated to be involved in cancer
progression. Many of these cancers are currently untreatable or
difficult to treat, and Gallo and his team have already identified
novel targets that will lead to groundbreaking treatments and
potential cures.
"Dr. Gallo is an outstanding, experienced investigator. I have
known Bob and followed his work for many years. His research will
solidify a new research initiative we are developing at the TGH
Cancer Institute, and his leadership and experience will help
develop our basic science and translational research strategy,"
said Dr. Jack Pledger, associate
director of Basic Sciences at the TGH Cancer Institute.
At the USF Morsani College of Medicine (USF Health), Gallo is
the James P. Cullison Professor of Medicine in the Division of
Infectious Diseases. Gallo will also develop and serve as
director of the USF Health Virology Center. He will be joined by
his team of four researchers.
"Dr. Gallo's expertise in virology is unparalleled and will not
only elevate the research taking place at the USF Health Morsani
College of Medicine but, through his groundbreaking research in the
connection of viruses and cancer and novel therapeutics for
difficult-to-treat cancers related to microorganisms, help the
Tampa General Cancer Institute advance treatments and, potentially,
find cures," said Dr. Charles J.
Lockwood, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of
the Morsani College of Medicine.
Gallo established in 1996 the Institute of Human
Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Gallo is also a
co-founder of the biotechnology company Profectus BioSciences, Inc.
and co-founder and scientific director of the Global Virus
Network (GVN). The GVN is now headquartered at USF Health.
ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL
HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit,
academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America
and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level
l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the
highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World
Report's 2024-2025 Best Hospitals, with two medical specialties
ranking among the top 20 in the nation and eight medical
specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in
the United States. Tampa General
Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022
Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health
system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is
recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the
top 100 nationally in the 2024 America's Best Large Employers, the
2023 America's Best Employers for Women, and the top 25 in
Florida in the 2023 America's Best
Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for
the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay,
and in fiscal year 2022, provided a net community benefit of
approximately $240.3 million in the
form of health care for underinsured patients, community education,
and financial support to community health organizations in
Tampa Bay. It is one of the
nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the
primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of
Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital
transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding
counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General
houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its
32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West
Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's
Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive
care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa
General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North which is comprised
of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical
Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH
Outpatient Center, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH
Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm
Beach counties. Tampa Bay
area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent
Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical
care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or
computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org).
As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General
Hospital is the first in Florida
to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center
that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better
coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go
to www.tgh.org.
Media Contact:
Amanda
Bevis
(202) 680-9262 (cell)
amanda@redhillsfl.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/member-of-the-national-academy-of-sciences-dr-robert-c-gallo-to-lead-microbial-oncology-program-at-tgh-cancer-institute-302200701.html
SOURCE Tampa General Hospital