Faculty & Staff

Richard Heller

Professor  
Office:  MDT 1509 | Lab: MDT 1541 | Email | 813-974-1221

 

EDUCATION  
Leadership Institute – University of South Florida Health 2006-2007

University of South Florida, College of Medicine,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Tampa, Florida
M.S. Medical Sciences, 1988
Ph.D. Medical Sciences, 1989, Specialization in Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Long Island University - C.W. Post Center, Greenvale, Long Island,
Major in Medical Microbiology and Immunology, M.S. Health Sciences, 1984

Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
B.S. Microbiology, 1979

RESEARCH AREAS  
The major focus is to develop effective drug and gene delivery. The emphasis is on translational studies that include the development and testing of new protocols or devices that can be utilized for potential therapies for cancer, wound healing, metabolic disorders and vascular diseases (peripheral and coronary ischemia) as well as vaccine and immunotherapy protocols.

MEMBERSHIPS and PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
American Association for Immunology                  
American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy – 2009-2013 Chair, Scientific Committee Non-Viral Gene Transfer        
International Society for Electroporation based Technologies and Treatments – 2016-18 – President Elect; 2018-2020 – President; 2020-2022 – Past-President
IEEE EMBS – Senior Member                                                                   
Society for In Vitro Biology – Fellow; 1996-2000 – Executive Board; 2002-2008 - Treasurer
American Society for Microbiology                        
Bioelectromagnetics Society
Society for Melanoma Research                              
American Association for Advancement in Science
National Academy of Inventors  

RESEARCH GRANTS  
Current:
“Efficient Delivery of Plasmid DNA to Achieve Appropriate Transgene Expression”
Role on project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health (NCI) 1R01 CA186730
Effective dates: 4/1/2015-3/31/2020
Total costs:  $1,814,917

“Thermal Assisted Gene Electro transfer to the Skin”
Role on project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIBIB) 1 R01 EB018956
Effective dates: 5/1/2015-2/28/2020 (NCE)
Total costs:  $1,377,000

“Controlled Delivery of Plasmid DNA via Low-Temperature Ion Deposition.”
Role on project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIBIB) 1 R01 EB023878
Effective dates: 9/1/2018-5/31/2022
Total costs:  $1,705,582

“Regulated Heat Combined with Impedance Spectroscopy to Improve and Control Electroporative DNA Delivery to the Skin in Vivo.”
Role on project:  Co-Investigator
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIBIB) 1 R01 EB027497
Effective dates: 05/1/2019-02/28/2023
Total costs:  $1,642,625

Pending:  
Development of a Minimally Invasive Approach to Administer Electric Field Based Therapies
Role on project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIBIB) 1 R21 EB029626
Total costs:  $405,000

Non-Viral Factor IX Gene Therapy Using A Minimally Invasive Approach
Role on project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health (NHLBI)
Total costs:  $1,970,591

Completed:
“Nanopulse Stimulation and Immune Modulators to Enhance Anti-Tumor Immune Response.”
Role on project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: Pulse Biosciences
Effective dates: 9/1/2018-8/31/2019
Total costs:  $226,189

“Thermally Assisted nsPEF Ablation”
Role on Project: Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Pulse Biosciences, Inc.
Effective Dates: 3/13/15-5/12/16
Total Costs: $344,250

“Biomarker Driven Optimization of IL-12 Gene Electrotransfer for the Treatment of Melanoma”
Role on project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: Virginia Bioscience Health Research Corporation
Effective dates: 10/15/2014-9/15/2016
Total costs:  $585,000

“Development of an Interference Electroporation Device to Improve Targeted Cell Permeabilization During Cancer Treatment Therapies”
Role on project:  Co-Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: NIH (NCI) R43 CA183242
Effective dates: 9/18/14-9/17/16
Total costs:  $156,000

“Therapeutic Potential of IL-15 Plasmid Delivery to Tumors Using Electroporation”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  National Institutes of Health 1 R01 CA122528
Effective Dates: May 1, 2008 – February 29, 2015 (NCE)
Total Costs: (5 years):  $1,656,605

“Determine the effectiveness of treating metastatic melanoma by combining GET with IL-12 with anti-CTLA4, anti-PD-1 and or anti-PD-L1”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Oncosec                                                      
Effective Dates: 9/15/13-12/30/14
Total Costs: $193,210

“Electro Gene Transfer for Coronary Artery Disease”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  National Institutes of Health 1 R21/R33 HL089017
Effective Dates: 9/1/08 – 11/30/14 (NCE)
Total Costs: (4 years for combined R21 and R33):  $2,209,914

“Interleukin- 12 Expression Analysis of Clinical Samples and Plasmid Stability”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Oncosec                                                      
Effective Dates: 8/01/13-11/30/14
Total Costs: $75,094

“Interference Electroporation”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Oncosec                                                      
Effective Dates: 8/01/13-6/30/14
Total Costs: $42,626

“Flu Vaccine Technology Program”
Role on Project: Co-Investigator
Granting Agency: TATRC
Effective Dates: 7/1/11-12/30/13
Total Costs: (18 months): $263,000 (ODU portion)

“Development and Commercialization of Pulse Power Technology”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Commonwealth of Virginia - CRCF MF-013                                                    
Effective Dates: 1/01/12-11/30/13
Total Costs: $100,000

“Bioelectrics Research for Casualty Care and Management”
Role on Project: Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: TATRC
Effective Dates: 9/6/11-10/5/13
Total Costs: (12 months): $1,049,000

“Immunotherapy for Melanoma”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Oncosec                                                      
Effective Dates: 6/04/13-9/15/13
Total Costs: $46,356 

“A Nonchemical Approach For Creating Platelet Gel”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Commonwealth of Virginia - CRCF MF-010                                                    
Effective Dates: 1/01/12-3/31/13
Total Costs: $100,000

“Electroporation System for Cutaneous Gene Transfer”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  National Institutes of Health 1 R01 EB005441-01
Effective Dates: 9/1/06-6/30/11
Total Costs: (4 years):  $1,300,000

“Long-term inducible expression of therapeutic genes following electroporation into rat muscle.”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Intrexon
Effective Dates: 9/1/09 – 12/31/11
Total Costs: $238,000

“Bioelectrics Research for Casualty Care and management”
Role on Project: Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: TATRC W81XWH-10-1-0376
Effective Dates: 8/2/10-9/1/11
Total Costs: (12 months): $1,401,000 

“Drug Design, Discovery and Delivery”
Role on Project: Co-Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: DARPA
Effective Dates: 8/22/08 – 8/21/10
Total Costs: (18 months): $1,200,000

“Antitumor Therapy Utilizing EP to Deliver IL-15 into B16 Melanoma”
Role on Project: Sponsor (Pre-doctoral Fellowship)
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health (NCI) 1 F31 CA119950
Effective Dates: December, 2007 - December, 2010
Total Costs: $116,000

“Human Health Countermeasures and Exploration Biology”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Effective Dates: August 1, 2005 – August 31, 2008 
Total Costs: (18 months):  $467,000

“Cardiovascular Battlefield Injury Diagnostic sensor and MEMS Technology Development”
Role on Project:  Co-Investigator
Granting Agency:  U.S. Army Medical Research ACQ Activity W81XWH-05-1-0585
Effective Dates:  09/06-10/08
Total Costs:  $1,800,000

“Florida Center of Excellence for Biomolecular Identification and Targeted Therapeutics”
Role on Project:  Co-Principal Investigator (Co-Director)
Granting Agency:  State of Florida
Effective Dates:  11/06-11/09
Total Costs:        $8,000,000

“Therapeutic Potential of IL-15 Plasmid Delivery to Tumors Using Electroporation”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  State of Florida, Bankhead-Coley Bridge Funding Program, 06BCBG1-09
Effective Dates:  01/07-12/07
Total Costs (1 year):        $200,000

“Exploratory study on DNA immunization regimen using electroporation in different target tissues”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Florida High Tech Corridor External Matching Grant Program
Effective Dates: April 1, 2007 - March 31, 2008
Total Costs:  $83,000

“Enhanced DNA Vaccine Delivery to Protect Against Biothreat Agents”
Role on Project:  Co-Principal Investigator (10% effort)
Granting Agency:  U.S. Army Medical Research ACQ Activity W81XWH-06-C-0007
Effective Dates: November 14, 2005-October 13, 2006
Total Costs: $70,000

“Anticancer Activity of HIV-1 Vpr”
Role on Project:  Sponsor/Mentor
Granting Agency:  National Institutes of Health (NCI) 1 F31 CA99917
Effective Dates:  September 1, 2002 - September 18, 2006
Total Costs:  $116,000

“Cardiovascular Battlefield Injury Diagnostic sensor and MEMS Technology Development”
Role on Project:  Co-Investigator (15% effort)
Granting Agency:  U.S. Army Medical Research ACQ Activity W81XWH-05-1-0585
Effective Dates:  09/05-09/06
Total Costs:        $870,000 

"Pine Cone Extract as an Adjuvant to Chemotherapy"
Role on Project:  Co-Investigator
Granting Agency:  National Institutes of Health (NCCAM) 1 R21 AT01259-01
Effective Dates:  July 1, 2002 - April 30, 2005
Total Costs:  $362,500

“Therapeutic Protein Production Through the Development of Transgenic Chickens”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  Florida High Tech Corridor External Matching Grant Program
Effective Dates: August 1, 2004 - December 31, 2005
Total Costs:  $76,308

“Stabile Transfection of Chick Embryos by Electroporation”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  RMR Technologies, LLC
Effective Dates:  October 1, 2003 - December 31, 2004
Total Costs:  $15,000

"Electrochemotherapy for Treating Soft Tissue Sarcomas"
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  National Cancer Institute 1 RO1 CA76181
Effective Dates:  April 1, 1999 - January 31, 2004
Total Costs: (5 years):  $712,450

“In vivo delivery of Genes to Skin”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency:  National Institutes of Health   1 R21 DK55588-01
Effective Dates: January 1, 2000 - June 30, 2002
Total Costs: (2 years):  $288,400

"A Novel and Efficient Method of Anticancer Drug Delivery."
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator (For USF)
Granting Agency:  National Cancer Institute, SBIR Phase II (Genetronics) 2 R44 CA62905
Effective Dates:  September 13, 1997 - September 12, 1999
Total Costs: (2 years):  $511,000 (192,000 to USF; 319,000 to Genetronics)

“In vivo gene delivery”
Role on Project:  Principal Investigator
Granting Agency: CBR Laboratories/Harvard
Effective Dates:  October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997
Total Costs: (1 year):  $20,000

HONORS and AWARDS  
1985-1987           Graduate Registration Fellowship, University of South Florida
1986                     Travel Award, Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine
1986-1987           USF Sigma XI research award
1987                     Second place, USF College of Medicine Research Symposium
1988                     Bennett Sallman Award, American Society for Microbiology Florida Branch
1989                     First place, USF College of Medicine Research Symposium
1989                     Tissue Culture Association Student Travel Award
1989                     Honor B. Fell Award, Tissue Culture Association
1991-1992           Robert J. Grasso Award for Outstanding Dedication to Graduate Education
1999                     External Reviewer (Chair) for Dissertation Defense of Per Engstrom, Lund, Sweden  
2003                     Biotechnology Achievement Award, Univ. of South Florida, Health Sciences Center
2004                     Iwao Yasuda Award from Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine
2004                     Society for In Vitro Biology Fellow Award
2005                     Society for In Vitro Biology Distinguished Service Award
2006                     Biotechnology Achievement Award, Univ. of South Florida, Health Sciences Center
2007                     Tampa Bay Business Journal Health Heroes Finalist
2013                     Frank Reidy Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Bioelectrics
2014                     Eminent Scholar Designation, ODU
2017                     IEEE Senior Member
2018                     ODU Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement Award

RECENT PUBLICATIONS  
Bhatia S, Longino NV, Miller NJ, Kulikauskas RM, Iyer JG, Ibrani D, Blom A, Byrd DR, Parvathaneni U, Twitty CG, Campbell JS, Le MH, Gargosky S, Pierce RH, Heller R, Daud AI, Nghiem P. Intratumoral delivery of plasmid interleukin-12 via electroporation leads to regression of injected and non-injected tumors in Merkel cell carcinoma.  Clin Cancer Res., 26(3):598-607, 2020.

Bulysheva, AA, Hornef, J, Edelblute, C, Jiang, C, Schoenbach, K, Lundberg, CG, Malik, MA and Heller, R.  Coalesced Thermal and Electrotransfer Mediated Delivery of Plasmid DNA to the Skin.  Bioelectrochemistry, 125:127-133, 2019.

Shi, G, Edelblute, C., Arpag, S, Lundberg, C and Heller R. IL-12 gene electrotransfer triggers a change in immune response within mouse tumors.  Cancers, 10:498, 2018

Edelblute, CM, Guo, S, Hornef, J, Yang, E, Jiang, C, Schoenbach, K and Heller, R.  Moderate heat application enhances the efficacy of nanosecond pulse stimulation for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma. TCRT, 17:1-9, 2018. 

Bulysheva, AA, Burcus, N, Lundberg, CG, Francis, M and Heller, R.  Vascular endothelial growth factor B gene electrotransfer and cardiomyogenesis in a rat model of cardiac ischemia.  Bioelectrochemistry, 124:105-111, 2018.

Guo, S, Burcus, NI, Hornef, J, Yu, J, Jiang, C, Heller, R and Beebe, SJ.  Nano-pulse stimulation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and the changes in immune profile. Cancers, 10(7):217, 2018

Guo, S, Jing, Y, Burcus, NI, Lassiter, BP, Tanaz, R, Heller, R and Beebe, SJ.  Nano-pulse stimulation induces potent immune responses, eradicating local breast cancer while reducing distant metastases.  Int. J. of Cancer, 142(3):629-640, 2018.

Edelblute, CM, Hornef, J, Burcus, N, Norman, T, Beebe, SJ, Schoenbach, K, Heller, R and Guo, S.  Controllable moderate heating enhances the therapeutic efficacy of irreversible electroporation for pancreatic cancer.  Sci. Reports 7:11767, 2017.

Savarin, M, Kamensek, U, Cemazar, M, Heller, R and Sersa, G. Electrotransfer of plasmid DNA radiosensitizes B16F10 tumors through activation of immune response.  Radiol. Oncol. 51(1):30-39, 2017

Malik, MA, Schoenbach, KH, Abdel-Fatah, TM, Heller, R and Jiang, C. Low cost compact nanosecond pulsed plasma system for environmental and biomedical applications.  Plasma Chem Plasma Process, 37:59-76, 2017.

Bulysheva, AA, Hargrave, B, Burcus, N, Lundberg, CG, Murray, L and Heller, R.  Vascular endothelial growth factor-A gene electro transfer promotes angiogenesis in a porcine model of cardiac ischemia. Gene Therapy, 23(8-9):649656, 2016.

Bulysheva, AA, Burcus, N, Lundberg, C, Edelblute, CM, Francis, MP and Heller, R.  Recellularized human dermis for testing gene electrotransfer ex vivo.  Biomed. Mater., 11(3):035002, 2016.

Edelblute, CM, Heller, LC, Malik, MA, Bulysheva, A and Heller R.  Plasma activated air mediates plasmid DNA delivery in vivo.  Mol. Ther. Methods and Clinical Dev., 3:16028, 2016

Donate, A, Bulysheva, A, Edelblute, C, Jung, D, Malik, MA, Guo, S, Burcus, N, Schoenbach, K and Heller R.  Thermal assisted in vivo gene electrotransfer.  Current Gene Therapy, 16(2):83-89, 2016.

Edelblute, CM, Heller, LC, Malik, MA, Heller, R.  Activated air produced by shielded sliding discharge plasma mediates plasmid DNA delivery to mammalian cells.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 112(12):2583-2590, 2015.

Malik, MA, Jiang, C, Heller, R, Lane, J, Hughes, D and Schoenbach, KH.  Ozone-free niric oxide production using an atmospheric pressure surface discharge – A way to minimize nitrogen dioxide co-production.  Chem. Eng. J. 283:631-638, 2015.

Malik, MA, Hughes, D, Heller, R and Schoenbach, K.  Surface plasmas versus volume plasmas – energy deposition and ozone generation in air and oxygen.  Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, Published online 21 January, 2015.

Shirley, S., Lundberg, C., Li, F., Burcus, N. and Heller, R.  Controlled Gene Delivery Enhances

Therapeutic Outcome for cancer Immune Therapy.  Current Gene Therapy, 15:32-43, 2015.

Donate, A, Burcus, N, Schoenbach, K and Heller, R. Application of increased temperature from an exogenous source to enhance gene electrotransfer. Bioelectrochemistry, 103:120-123, 2015

Chen R, Sain NM, Harlow KT, Chen YJ, Shires PK, Heller R, Beebe SJ. A protective effect after clearance of orthotopic rat hepatocellular carcinoma by nanosecond pulsed electric fields. Eur J Cancer. 50(15):2705-13, 2014.

Hargrave, B, Strange, Jr. R, Navare, S, Stratton, M, Burcus, N, Murray, L, Lundberg, C, Bulysheva, A and Heller, R.  Gene Electro transfer of plasmid encoding VEGF For Enhanced Expression and Perfusion in the Ischemic Swine Heart.  PLoS ONE 9(12): e115235, 2014.

Guo, S, Jackson, DL, Burcus, NI, Chen, Y-J, Xiao, S, Heller, R. Gene electrotransfer enhanced by nanosecond pulsed electric fields.  Mol. Ther. Methods and Clin Devel. 1: Article number 14043, 2014.

Malik, MA, Schoenbach, KH, Heller, R.  Coupled surface dielectric barrier discharge reactor-ozone synthesis and nitric oxide conversion from air.  Chem. Eng. J. 256:222-229, 2014

Basu, G., Downey, H., Guo, S., Israel, A., Asmar, A., Hargrave, B.  and Heller, R.  Prevention of distal flap necrosis in a rat random flap model by gene electrotransfer delivering VEGF165 plasmid.  J. Gene Medicine, 16(3-4):55-65, 2014.

Bao, X, Malik, MA, Norton, DG, Neculaes, VB, Schoenbach, KH, Heller, R, Siclovan, OP, Corah, SE, Caiafa, A, Inzinna, LP, Conway, KR. Shielded sliding discharge-assisted hydrocarbon selective catalytic reduction of NOx over Ag/Al2O3 catalysts using diesel as a reductant.  Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, 34:825-836, 2014

Miklavčič, D, Mali, B, Kos, B, Heller, R and Gregor Serša.  Electrochemotherapy: from the drawing board into medical practice.  BioMedical Engineering OnLine 2014, 13:29

Malik, M. A., Jiang, C., Dhali, S. K., Heller, R., and Schoenbach, K. H. Coupled Sliding Discharges: A Scalable Nonthermal Plasma System Utilizing Positive and Negative Streamers on Opposite Sides of a Dielectric Layer. Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, 34:871-886, 2014

Donate, A. and Heller, R.  Assessment of delivery parameters with the multi-electrode array for

development of a DNA vaccine against Bacillus anthracis.  Bioelectrochemistry, 94:1-6, 2013

Marrero, B., Shirley, S. and Heller, R.  Delivery of interleukin-15 to B16 melanoma by electroporation leads to tumor regression and long term survival.  TCRT 13(6):551-560, 2014.

Guo, S., Israel, A., Basu, G., Donate, A. and Heller, R.  Topical gene electrotransfer to the epidermis by non-invasive multielectrode array.  PLoS ONE 8(8): e73423, 2013

Hargrave, B., Downey, H., Strange, R. Jr., Murray, L., Cinnamond, C., Lundberg, C., Israel, A., Chen, Y-J., Marshall, W. Jr. and Heller R.   Electroporation-mediated gene transfer directly to the swine heart.  Gene Therapy, 12:151-157, 2012.

Marrero, B and Heller, R.  The use of an in vitro 3D melanoma model to predict in vivo plasmid transfection using electroporation.  Biomaterials, 33:3036-3046, 2012

Donate, A., Coppola, D., Cruz, Y. and Heller, R.  Evaluation of a novel non-penetrating electrode for use in DNA vaccination.  Plos One, 6(4):e19181, 2011.

Xiao, S., Guo, S., Nesin, V., Heller, R. and Schoenbach, K.  Subnanosecond electric pulse cause membrane permeabilization and cell death.  IEEE BME, 58(5):1239-1245, 2011

Guo, S., Donate, A., Basu, G., Lundberg, C., Heller, L. and Heller, R.  Electro-gene transfer to skin using a non-invasive multielectrode array.  J Controlled Release, 151(3):256-262, 2011

Ferraro, B., Heller, LC, Cruz, Y.L., Guo, S, Donate, A. and Heller, R.  Evaluation of delivery conditions for cutaneous delivery of plasmid DNA by electroporation using a multielectrode array.  Gene Therapy, 18(5):496-500, 2011

Potter, H. and Heller, R.  Transfection by electroporation.  Curr Protoc Mol Biol, Chap 9, 2010.

Beebe, S.J., Schoenbach, K.H. and Heller, R.  Bioelectric applications for treatment of melanoma.  Cancers, 2(3):1731-1770, 2010.

Heller, L.C., Cruz, Y.L., Ferraro, B., Yang, H. and Heller, R.  Plasmid injection and application of electric pulses alter endogenous mRNA and protein expression in B16.F10 mouse melanomas.  Cancer Gene Therapy, 17:864-871, 2010.

Heller, L.C., Heller, R. Electroporation Gene Therapy Preclinical and Clinical Trials for Melanoma, Curr Gene Ther, 10:312-317, 2010.

Muthumani K, Lambert VM, Kawalekar O, Heller R, Kim JJ, Weiner DB and Ugen KE.  Anti-cancer activity of the HIV accessory molecule viral protein R (Vpr): Delivery as a DNA expression plasmid or biologically active peptides.  Vaccine 28(8):2005-2010, 2010.

Ferraro, B., Cruz, Y.L., Baldwin, M., Coppola, D. and Heller, R.  Increased perfusion and angiogenesis in a hindlimb ischemia model with plasmid FGF-2 delivered by non-invasive electroporation.  Gene Therapy, 17:763-769, 2010.

Marshall, W.G.Jr, Boone, B.A., Burgos, J.D., Gografe, S.I., Baldwin, M.K., Danielson, M.L., Larson, M.J., Caretto, D.R., Cruz, Y., Ferraro, B., Ugen, K.E., Jaroszeski, M.J. and Heller, R. Electroporation Mediated Delivery of a Naked DNA Plasmid Expressing VEGF to the Porcine Heart Enhances Protein Expression. Gene Therapy, 17:419-423, 2010.

Heller, R., Cruz, Y., Heller, L.C., Gilbert, R. and Jaroszeski, M.J. Electrically Mediated Delivery of Plasmid DNA to the Skin Using a Multi Electrode Array.  Human Gene Therapy, 21:357-362, 2010.

Marrero, B., Messina, J.L. and Heller R.  Generation of a tumor spheroid in a microgravity environment as a 3D model of melanoma.  In vitro and Cellular Development, 2009, 45(9):523-34.

Ferraro, B., Cruz, Y.L., Coppola, D. and Heller, R.  Intradermal Delivery of Plasmid VEGF165 by Electroporation Promotes Wound Healing. Mol. Ther. 17(4):651-657, 2009.

Muthumani, K., Lambert, V.M., Sardesai, N., Kim, J.J., Heller, R. Weiner, D.B. and Ugen, K.E.  Analysis of the Potential for HIV-1 Vpr as an Anti-Cancer Agent.  Current HIV Research, 2009, 7(2):144-152.

Bodles-Brakhop, A.M., Heller, R. and Draghia-Akli, R.  Electroporation for the Delivery of DNA-based Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics: Current Clinical Developments.  Mol. Ther. 17(4):585-592, 2009.

Heller, L.C., Jaroszeski, M.J., Coppola, D. and Heller, R. Comparison of electrically mediated and liposome-complexed plasmid DNA delivery to the skin.  Genetic Vaccines and Therapy 2008, 6:16

Daud, A.I., DeConti, R.C. Andrews, S., Urbas, P., Riker, A.L., Sondak, V.K., Munster, P.N., Sullivan, D.M., Ugen, K.E., Messina, J.L., and Heller, R. Phase I trial of interleukin-12 plasmid in patients with metastatic melanoma.  Journal Clinical Oncology, 26(36): 5896–5903, 2008.

McCray, A.N., Ugen, K., and Heller, R.  Enhancement of Anti-Melanoma Activity of a Plasmid Expressing HIV Vpr Delivered though In Vivo Electroporation.  Cancer Biology and Therapy, 6(8):1269-75, 2007.

Lagor WR, Heller R, de Groh ED, Ness GC. Functional analysis of the hepatic HMG-CoA reductase promoter by in vivo electroporation. Exp Biol Med  232(3):353-61, 2007.

Heller, L.C., Jaroszeski, M.J., Coppola, D., McCrae, A.N., Hickey, J., and Heller, R.  Optimization of Cutaneous Electrically Mediated Plasmid DNA Delivery Using a Novel Electrode. Gene Therapy 14(3):275-80, 2007.

Heller, L.C. and Heller, R. In vivo electroporation for gene therapy.  Human Gene Therapy, 17(9):890-897, 2006.

Ugen, K.E., Kutzler, M.A., Marrero, B. Westover, J., Coppola, D., Weiner, D.B. and Heller, R.  Regression of Subcutaneous B16 Melanoma Tumors after Intratumoral Delivery of an IL-15 Expressing Plasmid with In Vivo Electroporation.  Cancer gene Therapy, 13(10):969-974 2006.

McCray, A.N., Ugen, K. E., Muthumani, K., Weiner, D.B. and Heller, R. Regression of Established B16 Murine Melanoma Tumors after Delivery of an HIV-1 Vpr Expressing Plasmid by In Vivo Electroporation.  Molecular Therapy 14(5):647-655 2006.

Heller, L.C., Merkler, K., Westover, J., Cruz, Y., Coppola, D., Benson, K., Daud, A. and Heller, R. Evaluation of Potential Toxicity of Electroporation Mediated Deliver of a Plasmid Encoding for IL-12 in a Mouse Melanoma Model.  Clinical Cancer Research, 12(10):3177-83, 2006

RECENT BOOKS, REVIEWS, CHAPTERS, & SHORT REPORTS:  
Handbook of Electroporation (Miklavcic, D ed) Heller, R Section Editor, Springer Switzerland, 2017

Bulysheva, AA and Heller, R. Gene Electrotransfer for Ischemic Tissue, in “Handbook of Electroporation”. (Miklavcic, D, ed.), pps 437-450, Springer Switzerland, 2017.

Bulysheva, AA and Heller, R. 3D Culture Models to Assess Tissue Responses to Electroporation, in “Handbook of Electroporation” (Miklavcic, D, ed.), pps 437-450, Springer Switzerland, 2017

Bioelectrics, (Akiyama, H and Heller, R, eds), Springer, Japan, 2017

Heller, R. Gene Electrotransfer, in “Bioelectrics”, (Akiyama, H and Heller, R, eds), pps 307-320, Springer, Japan, 2017

Shirley, S., Heller, L., Heller, R. Gene Electrotransfer, in “Gene and Cell Therapy: Therapeutic Mechanisms and Strategies, Fourth Edition”, (Templeton, N.S. ed), in press, 2015.

Heller R and Heller LC.  Gene electrotransfer clinical trials, in “Advances in Genetics Vol 89; Non-Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy: Physical Methods and Medical Translation”, (Huang, L, Wagner, E and Liu, D eds), pps 235-262, Academic Press, Waltham, MA, 2015.

Heller R and Heller LC.  Gene electrotransfer clinical trials, in “Advances in Genetics Vol 89; Non-Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy: Physical Methods and Medical Translation”, (Huang, L, Wagner, E and Liu, D eds), pps 235-262, Academic Press, Waltham, MA, 2015.

Bigey, P, Heller, R and Scherman, D.  Electrotransfer/Electroporation for Non-Viral Nucleic Acid Delivery. in “Gene Transfer, Gene Therapy and Genetic Pharmacology”, (Scherman D, ed), pps 265-285, Imperial College Press, London, UK, 2014.

Shirley, S.A., Heller, R., and Heller, L.C. Electroporation Gene Therapy, in “Gene Therapy of Cancer, Third Edition”, (Lattime, E.C. and Gerson, S. L., Eds), pps 93-106, Academic Press, Waltham, MA, 2014.

Electroporation Protocols, 2nd edition, (Li, S, Cutera, J, Heller, R and Justin Teissie, eds), Humana Press, New York, 2014

Heller LC, and Heller R.  Gene electrotransfer to tumor. in Clinical Aspects of Electroporation (S.T. Kee, J. Gehl and E.W. Lee, Eds.) pps. 159-164, Springer, 2011

Heller LC, and Heller R.  Translation of electroporation-mediated DNA delivery to the clinic. in Advanced Electroporation Techniques in Biology and Medicine (A.G. Pakhomov, D. Miklavcic and M.S. Markov, Eds.) pps. 371-383, CRC Press, 2010

U.S. PATENTS ISSUED
10,143,759, 12/04/18, Method for the Treatment of Malignancies. Heller, R and Ugen, K.

10,070,914, 9/11/18, Electromanipulation of cells and other biological tissues by pulsed electric fields at elevated temperatures.  Schoenbach, K, Heller R, Camp, J, Beebe, SP, Xiao, S, Donate, A.

9,872,721, 1/23/18, Multi-electrode electrical pulse delivery system for treatment of biological tissues.  Schoenbach, K and Heller R.

9,610,364, 4/4/17, Method for the treatment of malignancies. Inventors: Heller R, Lucas, ML, and Heller, LC.

9,486,626, 11/08/16, Passive Electric Field Focus System for In Vivo and Vitro. Rey, JI, Gilbert, R, Jaroszeski, MJ, Heller, R.

9,345,682, 5/24/16, Inhibition Of Stat3 Signal Transduction For Human Cancer Therapy. Jove, R, Dalton, W, Sebti, S, Yu, H, Heller, R, Jaroszeski, MJ, Gilbert, RA and Hamilton, AD.

9,014,800, 4/21/15, Passive Electric Field Focus System for In Vivo and Vitro. Rey, JI, Gilbert, R, Jaroszeski, MJ, Heller, R.

8,927,518, 1/6/15, Method for the treatment of malignancies. Inventors: Heller R and Ugen K.

8,822,222, 9/2/14, Apparatus for generating electrical pulses and methods using the same. Inventors: Beebe, SJ, Schoenbach, KH, Heller, R.

8,802,643, 8/12/14, Method for the treatment of malignancies, Inventors: Heller, R, Heller L.

8,738,125, 5/27/14, Devices and methods for delivering molecules to the heart with electric fields, Inventors: Heller, R, Marshall WM, Jr., Jaroszeski, MJ.

8,235,966, 8/7/12, Electromanipulation method.  Inventors: Hoff, AM, Gilbert, R, Heller, R, Jaroszeski, MJ. 

8,026,223, 9/27/11, Treating malignant tumors with high field strength electroporation of plasmids encoding IL-12.  Inventors: Heller R and Lucas ML. 

8,017,368, 9/13/11, Molecular delivery to cells using aspirin-related compounds.  Inventors: Jaroszeski, MJ, Langham, J, Heller R and Gilbert, R. 

7,879,610, 2/1/11, Electroporation system and method for facilitating entry of molecules into cells in vivo Inventors: Heller R, Gilbert R, and Jaroszeski, MJ.

7,781,195, 8/24/10, Electroporation device. Inventors: Heller R, Jaroszeski M J, Gilbert R.

7,769,440, 8/3/10, Electromanipulation device and method. Inventors: Hoff AM, Gilbert R, Heller R, Jaroszeski MJ.

7,713,740, 5/11/10, Method of using electric fields to facilitate the entry of molecules into cells in vivo. Inventors: Jaroszeski MJ, Gilbert R, Heller R.  

7,668,592, 2/23/10, Electroporation and electrophoresis system and method for achieving molecular penetration into cells in vivo. Inventors: Heller R, Gilbert R, Jaroszeski, M J, Heller LC, Lucas ML.

6,937,890, 8/30/05 Nonpenetrating electroporation device.  Inventors:  Jaroszeski MJ, Gilbert R and Heller R.   

6,929,949, 8/16/05 Corona ion generating method and apparatus for the manipulation of molecules and biological cells.  Inventors:  Hoff AM, Jaroszeski MJ, Gilbert R and Heller R.  

6,778,853, 08/17/04, Electroporation Device.  Inventors:  Heller R, Gilbert R, Jaroszeski MJ.

6,714,816. 03/30/04, Electroporation and electrophoresis system and method for achieving molecular penetration into cells in vivo.  Inventors:  Heller R, Gilbert R, Jaroszeski MJ, Heller LC, Lucas ML.

6,569,149 B2, 5/27/03, Method of Treatment Using Electroporation Mediated Delivery of Drugs and Genes.  Inventors:  Dev SB, Hofmann GH, Gilbert R, Heller R and Jaroszeski MJ.

6,451,002, 09/17/02, Method of Treatment Using Electroporation Mediated Delivery of Drugs and Genes.  Inventors:  Dev SB, Hofmann GH, Hayakawa Y, Gilbert R, Heller R and Jaroszeski MJ.  

6,418,341, 07/09/02, Needle Electrode Assembly for Electroporation Mediated Delivery of Genes and Drugs.  Inventors:  Hofmann GH, Gilbert R, Heller R and Jaroszeski MJ.  

6,355,485 B1, 03/12/02, Electrofusion Chamber.  Inventors.  Jaroszeski MJ, Gilbert R, Heller R.  

6,221,665 B1, 04/24/01, Electrofusion Chamber. Inventors: Jaroszeski MJ, Gilbert R, Heller R.

6,314,316 B1, 11/06/01, Nonpenetrating Electroporation Device and Method.  Inventors: Gilbert R, Heller R, Jaroszeski MJ.

6,135,990, 10/24/00, Electroporation Device and Method.  Inventors: Heller R, Gilbert R, and Jaroszeski MJ. 

5,993,434, 11/30/99, Method of Treatment using Electroporation Mediated Delivery of Drugs and Genes.  Inventors: Dev, SB, Hofmann, GH, Heller, R, Gilbert, R, and Jaroszeski, MJ. 

5,830,460, 11/03/98, Sertoli cells as transplantation facilitator for cell transplantation.  Inventors: Sanberg PR, Cameron DF, Borlongan CF, Heller R.

5,827,736, 10/27/98, Purified and Isolated Sertoli Cell-Secretory Cell Hybrid.  Inventors: Heller R, Cameron DF, Sanberg PR, Jaroszeski MJ.

5,702,359,12/30/97, Needle Electrodes for Mediated Delivery of drugs and Genes.  Inventors: Hofmann GA, Gilbert R, Hayakowa Y, Heller R, Jaroszeski MJ.