Stamford, CT (PRWEB) February 20, 2015

World-renowned scientist and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine genetics and biochemistry professor Joseph Glorioso III, PhD has been named Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council at Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy.

Glorioso, known for his work on the molecular and genetic aspects of the herpes simplex virus and how to better engineer this organism as a vector for transporting therapeutic genes, will take the helm from Dr. Savio L.C. Woo, the founding Chairman of ACGT’s Scientific Advisory Council; Dr. Woo has also been named Chairman Emeritus of the Council.

“Savio has been a remarkable and dynamic leader who has steered the Council from the beginning to focus on young investigators and groundbreaking clinical translation,” Glorioso said. “This work has resulted in ACGT pioneering breakthroughs in gene and cell therapy treatments for cancer. We now look forward, to expanding our vision to include later-stage research, which will be very exciting.”

Glorioso received his bachelor’s degree and doctorate from Louisiana State University before joining the University of Michigan Medical School in the late 1970s. He attained the rank of professor and assistant dean for research and graduate studies there, and then joined the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1989. At Pittsburgh, Glorioso served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, as well as the McEllroy Professorship in Biochemistry until 2009. He continues his groundbreaking work in the development of herpes viral vectors for the treatment of cancer, chronic pain and diseases of the central nervous system. Glorioso has served on ACGT’s Scientific Advisory Council since 2005.

“Joe has been a valuable member of our Scientific Advisory Council and has made tremendous strides in his own work to improve the quality of life for patients fighting cancer and other diseases; that same vision will advance ACGT’s own pursuit of effective cell and gene therapy treatments,” said Barbara Netter, President and Co-founder of ACGT.

ACGT’s Scientific Advisory Council, composed of preeminent physicians and researchers in cell and gene therapy, serves without remuneration and establishes the scientific criteria for the review of all grants. Council members are also tasked with developing strict accountability guidelines requiring periodic progress reports. At present, the Council is composed of 15 members, including Glorioso.

Based in Stamford, Connecticut, ACGT funds top physicians and researchers at medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada. The Foundation supports a number of gene and cell therapy treatments, including immunotherapy, which activates patients’ own immune systems to battle cancerous cells. In 2014, the FDA granted fast-track status to 2 immunotherapy treatments for leukemia, for which ACGT provided critical early funding.

About Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT):

Established in 2001, ACGT (http://www.acgtfoundation.org) is the nation’s only not-for-profit dedicated exclusively to cell and gene therapy treatments for all types of cancer. One-hundred percent of contributions go directly to research. ACGT has funded 46 grants in the U.S. and Canada since its founding in 2001 by Barbara Netter, President, and her late husband, Edward, to conduct and accelerate critically needed innovative research. Since its inception, ACGT has awarded 31 grants to Young Investigators and 15 grants to Clinical Investigators, totaling more than $ 25 million in funding. ACGT is located at 96 Cummings Point Road, Stamford, CT 06902.

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