Loree C. Heller, PhD  Associate Professor, Medical and Laboratory Radiation Science Center for Bioelectrics  Contact Information: Email: lheller@odu.edu Telephone: 757 683-2416 Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics 4211 Monarch Way, Ste. #300, Norfolk, VA 23508

Loree C. Heller received her BS in Microbiology (Oregon State University), MS in Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Long Island University), and PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (University of South Florida) in 1993.  Her research interests include:

1.      In vivo electroporation is a well established molecule delivery method.  Delivery of chemotherapeutic agents using this technique has been approved and is reimbursed in several European Union countries as a cancer therapy, and delivery of nucleic acids for cancer therapy and vaccine delivery has reached clinical trials.  This research explores methods of maintaining molecule delivery while reducing the effects of pulsed field delivery, particularly by reducing the total pulse energy delivered.  The biological consequences of therapeutic delivery, including induced endogenous gene expression, tissue damage, biodistribution of the therapeutic molecule, and genomic integration are also being explored.

2. Technologies based on pulsed fields can inactivate a number of pathogens and opportunistic pathogens. Many clinically relevant bacteria can develop partial, or even complete, antibiotic resistance. Due to the ineffectiveness of available antibiotics, the development of alternative methods of inactivation, including non-antibiotic methods, is necessary. This research focuses on the development of clinical applications of pulsed fields in inactivation of opportunistic bacteria.