Principal Investigator
George N. Pavlakis, MD, PhD
Visiting Scholar
Pathology Advanced Translational Research Unit
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
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George Pavlakis obtained his MD degree from University of Athens Medical school and his PhD degree in Molecular Biology from Syracuse University.
Dr. Pavlakis has extensive research and development experience in molecular biology, virology, and immunology. He has directed both basic research and clinical development projects based on his pioneering research achievements. He developed the first mammalian cell production of mature Human Growth Hormone, one of the first licensed biotechnology products using mammalian cell engineering, which became the dominant technology. He also developed important technologies and insights used widely, including: codon/RNA optimization methods that have found wide applications in biotechnology, gene therapy protocols and many vaccines, including all Adenovirus vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines; DNA vaccines for HIV providing strong and long-lasting immunity in macaques; lipid formulations for nucleic acid delivery in humans; strong fluorescent GFP mutants that are in wide use in biology. He studied the molecular biology, organization and expression strategy of HIV and discovered important functions of its regulatory factors Tat and Rev. He developed several vectors and drugs in clinical trials for AIDS vaccines and cancer immunotherapy. His research and development achievements have led to many clinical trials and approved drugs, and are described in more than 250 publications and more than 80 US and international patents licensed to Pharma industry.
He joined PATRU in 2024
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Pavlakis continues to investigate improved methods for cancer and AIDS vaccines and immunotherapies.
His current research interests include synergistic therapeutic combinations for cancer treatment focusing on metastasis prevention.