On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated COVID-19 an international pandemic, as a worldwide total of 20 million have been infected and almost 750,000 have died. As cases continue to climb around the globe, a vaccine remains among the most promising ways to halt the spread of this pandemic.

The astronomical impact of the coronavirus has motivated scientists and researchers around the world to work around the clock, share resources, and collaborate to develop a vaccine capable of controlling the pandemic, save lives, and ultimately help the world return to “normal.” As StatNews recently reported, “The astonishing pace of the progress is also a consequence of the virus itself: It is, scientifically speaking, an easier target for potential vaccines than other pathogens, and a prime candidate for cutting-edge vaccine platforms new to scientists’ toolkits.”

Listen to Dr. Andrea Gambotto on Thursday, September 24th talk about the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and some of the ongoing research that he’s conducting with his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh to produce an experimental vaccine to combat the coronavirus. Learn what it takes to get a vaccine developed, tested, and distributed to seven billion people worldwide while considering access and equity across economic spheres in our interdependent world.

WACC Distinguished Speaker Series

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2020
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Register online

 

 

 

Biography

Andrea Gambotto, MD

  • Associate Professor of Surgery

Education & Training

  • MD, Bari University School of Medicine
  • Post-doctoral Fellowship, Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Representative Publications

Dr. Gambotto’s publications can be reviewed through PubMed.

Research, Clinical, and/or Academic Interests

  • Zika vaccine development
  • MERS vaccine
  • Development of EBOLA vaccine and therapeutics
  • Adenoviral-based PEDV vaccine
  • PD-I blockade in the context of cancer immunotherapy
  • Adenoviral-based H5Nl Influenza vaccine
  • RSV and Paramixoviridiae multiantigen vaccine development
  • Influenza virus vector development for vaccine applications
  • HPV cancer vaccine development
  • Adenoviral-based HIV vaccine
  • Adenoviral-based SARS vaccine
  • Adenoviral mediated cytokines and antigens transfer to dendritic cells
  • Novel adenoviral vectors for gene therapy applications
  • ChTCR Genetic Engineering of T-Cells