Arun Srivastava, PhD

Division Chief, George H. Kitzman Professor

Department: MD-PEDS-CELL / MOLEC THERP DIV

Business Phone: (352) 273-8259

Business Email: aruns@peds.ufl.edu

About Arun Srivastava

Dr. Arun Srivastava is George H. Kitzman Professor of Genetics and Chief of Division of Cellular & Molecular Therapy in the Departments of Pediatrics, and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, and Powell Gene Therapy Center. He received his PhD degree from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India. After completing his postdoctoral training at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, he worked as a Research Associate in the laboratory of Dr. Kenneth I. Berns at the University of Florida. For nearly two decades, he was on the faculty at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he rose to the rank of Professor. He was recruited back to the University of Florida in 2004. In the past four decades, he has mentored 10 Clinical Fellows and 35 Postdoctoral Fellows. Four students have graduated with MS degrees, and 13 students have received their PhD degrees from his laboratory. His research activities are currently supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Kitzman Foundation. He has also been awarded 20 US Patents on his research on human parvoviruses and their potential use as vectors in human gene therapy. He currently serves on an NIH Study Section as well as on the Editorial Boards of Journal of Virology, Human Gene Therapy, Recent Patents on DNA and Gene Sequences, Gene Therapy and Molecular Biology, Journal of Integrative Medicine, and Journal of Molecular Cytotherapy. He also serves as Executive Editor of Journal of Genetic Syndromes and Gene Therapy. He has published 140 peer-reviewed research articles, 27 book chapters, and 14 reviews, 14 miscellaneous articles, and 230 abstracts, mostly on human parvoviruses.

Dr. Srivastava’s research has been focused on the following two parvoviruses, the non-pathogenic adeno-associated virus (AAV), and a common human pathogen, the parvovirus B19, and the development of recombinant parvovirus vectors in human gene therapy. His laboratory has made seminal contributions to the field of parvoviruses, which include: identification of cellular co-receptors for AAV2 and AAV3 as well as parvovirus B19; elucidation of various steps involved in parvovirus trafficking in the cell and nuclear transport; identification of cellular proteins involved in the regulation of AAV DNA replication and encapsidation; development of recombinant AAV and parvovirus B19 vectors; and transgenic and knockout mouse models to study parvovirus-induced pathogenicity, and the use of parvovirus vectors for gene transfer and gene therapy. Recently, his laboratory has developed the next generation (“NextGen”) AAV vectors in which the viral capsid has been modified to achieve high-efficiency transduction at significantly reduced vector doses. More recently, his laboratory has also modified the AAV genome to develop the generation X (“GenX”) AAV vectors with which increased transgene expression can be achieved. The NextGen AAV vectors have been used by other investigators in a Phase I Clinical Trial for Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). The NextGen and the GenX vectors have been combined in Dr. Srivastava’s laboratory to develop the optimized [“Opt”] AAV serotype vectors, and the current emphasis is on gene therapy of malignant disorders such as hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, and gene therapy/genome editing of genetic diseases such as hemophilia, β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

Accomplishments

ILBS-TATA Professor of Eminence

2019 · Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India

University of Florida Term Professor

2017 · University of Florida

Children’s Miracle Network Scholar

2013 · Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida

University of Florida Research Foundation Professor

2013 · University of Florida

Honorary Professor and Advisor

2010 · Shenzhen Institute of Xiangya Biomedicine, Central South University, Shenzhen, PR China

Member, Program Project Review Committee

2007 · National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Member, Scientific Review Board, Gene Therapy Resource Program

2007 · National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Member, Medical Biochemistry Study Section

1999 · National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Excellence in Scientific Publication Award

1997 · Sigma Xi Scientific Society

Member, Steering Committee, National Gene Vector Laboratories

1997 · National Gene Vector Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Member, Scientific Advisory Board

1996 · Immusol, Inc.

Founder and Member, Scientific Advisory Board

1992 · Avigen, Inc.

Member, Medical Advisory Board

1992 · Cancer Research Foundation of America

Established Investigator

1990 · American Heart Association

Overseas Conference Fund Travel Award

1989 · Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

Medical Research Endowment Award

1984 · University of Arkansas For Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR

Sreenivasaya Memorial Medal

1979 · Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

Senior Research Fellowship

1975 · University Grants Commission, Government of India

Junior Research Fellowship

1974 · Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India

Best All-Round Student Medal

1971 · Ewing Christian College, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

Coondoo Memorial Medal for Academic Excellence

1970 · Ewing Christian College, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

Dudgeon Memorial Medal for Academic Excellence

1970 · Ewing Christian College, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

Merit Scholar

1967 · UP State Government, India

Research Profile

Dr. Srivastava’s research has been focused on the following two parvoviruses, the non-pathogenic adeno-associated virus (AAV), and a common human pathogen, the parvovirus B19, and the development of recombinant parvovirus vectors in human gene therapy. His laboratory has made seminal contributions to the field of parvoviruses, which include: identification of cellular co-receptors for AAV2 and AAV3 as well as parvovirus B19; elucidation of various steps involved in parvovirus trafficking in the cell and nuclear transport; identification of cellular proteins involved in the regulation of AAV DNA replication and encapsidation; development of recombinant AAV and parvovirus B19 vectors; and transgenic and knockout mouse models to study parvovirus-induced pathogenicity, and the use of parvovirus vectors for gene transfer and gene therapy. Recently, his laboratory has developed the next generation (“NextGen”) AAV vectors in which the viral capsid has been modified to achieve high-efficiency transduction at significantly reduced vector doses. More recently, his laboratory has also modified the AAV genome to develop the generation X (“GenX”) AAV vectors with which increased transgene expression can be achieved. The NextGen AAV vectors have been used by other investigators in a Phase I Clinical Trial for Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). The NextGen and the GenX vectors have been combined in Dr. Srivastava’s laboratory to develop the optimized [“Opt”] AAV serotype vectors, and the current emphasis is on the potential gene therapy of genetic diseases such as β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, and malignant disorders such as hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0003-1168-8034

Areas of Interest

Adeno-Associated Viral Gene Therapy
Hematology
Liver Disease

Publications

2020

A Tribute to Barrie J. Carter.

Human gene therapy. 31(9-10):491-493 [DOI] 10.1089/hum.2020.29118.bca. [PMID] 32239977.

Arun Srivastava, PhD

Division Chief, George H. Kitzman Professor

About Arun Srivastava

Accomplishments

Research Profile

Publications

Grants

Patents

Education

Teaching Profile

Contact Details