Richard Heller, Ph.D., is Professor of Medical Engineering at the University of South Florida. Heller is recognized as a pioneer in developing efficient delivery systems for plasmid DNA and chemotherapeutics, and the leading expert in gene electrotransfer. He demonstrated that plasmid DNA can be delivered to a variety of tissue targets including tumors (melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic, etc), skin, muscle, liver and heart. For more than 30 years, his research has focused on evaluating the use of pulse electric fields to manipulate biological cells and tissues, in particular, developing in vivo delivery procedures for non-viral gene transfer for enhancing immunotherapy for cancer treatment. He is the recipient of the Iwao Yasuda Award from Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine, Society for In Vitro Biology Distinguished Service Award, Honor B. Fell Award from the Tissue Culture Association, Frank Reidy Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Bioelectrics, Robert J. Grasso Award for Outstanding Dedication to Graduate Education, and Eminent Scholar designation from Old Dominion University, among many other awards. He holds 40 U.S. patents, 17 of which have been licensed to 4 companies. He has published more than 167 articles, books, and book chapters; serves as editorial board member for six journals, and reviewer for more than a dozen additional journals, including PNAS, as well as for NIH Study Sections, the DOD and ACGT. Heller is Fellow, Society for In Vitro Biology; IEEE Senior Member; & Charter Member USF NAI Chapter.