Valery Grdzelishvili, Ph.D.

CBES Area of Interest:

Dr. Grdzelishvili’s research is centered around the exploitation of viruses [vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in particular] as anticancer (“oncolytic”) agents. VSV can preferentially replicate in malignant cells and less so in normal cells, since transformed cells exhibit the hallmarks of a flawed host defense. Dr. Grdzelishvili is particularly interested in the identification and characterization of cellular and viral determinants of susceptibility or resistance of pancreatic cancers to VSV and other oncolytic viruses. Dr. Grdzelishvili also collaborates with Dr. Gloria Elliott on the preservation of vaccines. This research is focused on the development of a unique drying process that will enable vaccines to be stored at room temperature.

CBES Area of Expertise:

Molecular Virology, exploiting viruses as anticancer (“oncolytic”) agents, virus-host interaction.