{{Short description|American cancer biologist}} {{Infobox academic | name = David T. Curiel | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1956}} | birth_place = Douglasville, Georgia, USA | education = BSc, Chemistry, 1978, West Georgia College <br> MD, 1982, Emory University <br> PhD, Virology, 2002, University of Groningen | thesis_title = Genetic capsid modification for adenovirus retargeting | thesis_year = 2002 | workplaces = Washington University in St. Louis <br> University of Alabama at Birmingham <br> University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill }} '''David Terry Curiel''' (born 1956) is an American cancer biologist. He is a professor of Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine. In 1995, Curiel led a research team who were one of the first to develop a vaccine based on messenger RNA. Although they published proof of concept, he could not continue testing due to a lack of funding. In 2021, Curiel developed a vaccine that targets the SARS-CoV-2 virus through the nose.
==Early life and education== Curiel was born in 1956<ref>{{cite web |title=Curiel, David Terry, 1956- |url=https://viaf.org/viaf/21434052/#David_T._Curiel |publisher=VIAF |access-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042407/https://viaf.org/viaf/21434052/#David_T._Curiel |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="McIntosh">{{cite news |last1=McIntosh |first1=Charlotte |title=Gene therapy making strides |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116369337/gene-therapy-making-strides/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |publisher=Birmingham Post-Herald |date=October 2, 2000 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042405/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116369337/gene-therapy-making-strides/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His father was from the Dominican Republic and practiced general medicine in Georgia. Curiel is of Jewish descent.<ref name="Berger">{{cite news |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=WU researcher pioneered process used in COVID vaccines |url=https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/wu-researcher-pioneered-process-used-in-covid-vaccines/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |publisher=St. Louis Jewish Light |date=March 9, 2021 |archive-date=December 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223163645/https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/wu-researcher-pioneered-process-used-in-covid-vaccines/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following high school, Curiel remained in his home state for his Bachelor of Science at West Georgia College and medical degree at the Emory University School of Medicine. Upon receiving his medical degree, Curiel completed his internship and residency at Emory in 1985 and his fellowships in pulmonary medicine and biotechnology at the National Institutes of Health in 1990.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=David T. Curiel, MD, PhD |date=19 October 2016 |url=https://radonc.wustl.edu/people/david-t-curiel-md-phd/ |publisher=Washington University in St. Louis |access-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109163719/https://radonc.wustl.edu/people/david-t-curiel-md-phd/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He enrolled at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands for his PhD.<ref name="Arizona">{{cite news |last1=Wichner |first1=David |title=UA institute has narrowed director candidates to four |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367388/ua-institute-has-narrowed-director/ |access-date=February 1, 2023 |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=March 4, 2004 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042405/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367388/ua-institute-has-narrowed-director/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Career== Following his fellowships, Curiel became an assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).<ref name="Wood">{{cite news |last1=Airington |first1=Tracy |title=Junior medical faculty chosen for Wood award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367604/junior-medical-faculty-chosen-for-wood/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |publisher=The Chapel Hill Herald |date=September 2, 1992 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042405/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367604/junior-medical-faculty-chosen-for-wood/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In this role, he began working on gene transfer techniques for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. In 1992, he began combining two different gene therapy approaches into a virus using Adenovirus. Healthy genes are transferred to defective cells on the outer coat of inactivated adenoviruses which in turn enter the cell nuclei where defective genes lie.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blythe |first1=Anne |title=Gene technique may be breakthrough |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367516/gene-technique-may-be-breakthrough/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |publisher=The Chapel Hill News |date=April 9, 1992 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042406/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367516/gene-technique-may-be-breakthrough/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kanigel |first1=Rachele |title=UNC-CH gene findings promising |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367930/unc-ch-gene-findings-promising/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |publisher=The News and Observer |date=April 9, 1992 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042406/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367930/unc-ch-gene-findings-promising/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His research efforts earned him the 1992 James W Woods Junior Faculty Award from UNC.<ref name="Wood"/> Following this, Curiel was appointed Director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's (UAB) Gene Therapy Program in 1993.<ref name="McIntosh"/> While serving in this role, Curiel led a research team who were the first to develop a vaccine based on messenger RNA. Although they published proof of concept, he could not continue testing due to a lack of funding and public interest.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pou |first1=Toni |title=RNA vaccines: A story of scientific tenacity |date=3 July 2021 |url=https://en.ara.cat/science-technology/rna-vaccines-story-of-scientific-tenacity_130_4042393.html |publisher=Diari ARA |access-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727173015/https://en.ara.cat/science-technology/rna-vaccines-story-of-scientific-tenacity_130_4042393.html |archive-date=July 27, 2021}}</ref> Curiel also served as the principal investigator (PI) of a team researching how to develop unique methods of delivering genes to specific targets.<ref>{{cite news |title=$13 million breast cancer grant establishes UAB among Nation's leaders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367559/13-million-breast-cancer-grant/ |access-date=February 1, 2023 |publisher=Abbeville Herald |date=October 5, 2000 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042406/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116367559/13-million-breast-cancer-grant/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His efforts in gene therapy earned him the funding to study a system to define tumor cell signatures.<ref>{{cite web |title=First 'Unconventional Innovations Program' NCI Grants Awarded |series=Oncology NEWS International Vol 8 No 12 |url=https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/first-unconventional-innovations-program-nci-grants-awarded |publisher=Cancer Network |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=December 1, 1999 |volume=8 |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004135444/https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/first-unconventional-innovations-program-nci-grants-awarded |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2000, Curiel was appointed Director of the Division of Human Gene Therapy at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.<ref name="McIntosh"/>
As Director of the Division of Human Gene Therapy, Curiel oversaw a consortium of scientists who modified an adenovirus that reproduces inside tumor cells in order to eradicate them called Delta-24-RGD.<ref>{{cite web |title=Better Gene Therapy |url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/better-gene-therapy |publisher=Newswire |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=February 23, 2002 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042407/https://www.newswise.com/articles/better-gene-therapy |url-status=live }}</ref> This was thought to be the first treatment for malignant glioma. While testing the Delta-24-RGD treatment with scientists at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, their research teams found that the treatment would completely eradicate brain tumors in mice, while leaving healthy brain tissue alone.<ref>{{cite web |title=Smart Virus Eliminates Brain Cancer In Animal Experiments |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/05/030507080912.htm |publisher=Science Daily |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=May 7, 2003 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418230326/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/05/030507080912.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He also founded VectorLogics, Inc. in order to develop products to treat ovarian cancer.<ref name="biospace">{{cite web |title=DNAtrix and VectorLogics, Inc. Complete Merger Transaction |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/-b-dnatrix-b-and-vectorlogics-inc-complete-merger-transaction-/ |publisher=BioSpace |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=October 23, 2012 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042415/https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/-b-dnatrix-b-and-vectorlogics-inc-complete-merger-transaction-/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, Curiel was a finalist for the Director position at the University of Arizona's Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology.<ref name="Arizona"/> However, he chose to remain at UAB until 2011 when he became Director of the Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) Biologic Therapeutics Center.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baugher |first1=David |title=Bench to bed: Washington University is carrying research from the lab to practice |url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/health-science-environment/2011-09-20/bench-to-bed-washington-university-is-carrying-research-from-the-lab-to-practice |publisher=St. Louis NPR |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042914/https://news.stlpublicradio.org/health-science-environment/2011-09-20/bench-to-bed-washington-university-is-carrying-research-from-the-lab-to-practice |url-status=live }}</ref> During his final years at UAB, Scientific American magazine deemed Curiel's 2003 co-authored paper on virotherapy as "one of 10 groundbreaking stories of the past 10 years."<ref>{{cite web |title=Virotherapy in spotlight again, in use at bedside |url=https://www.uab.edu/reporterarchive/51793-virotherapy-in-spotlight-again-in-use-at-bedside |publisher=University of Alabama at Birmingham |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=September 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tumor-Busting Viruses |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tumor-busting-viruses-2008-07/#sa_body |publisher=Scientific American |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=July 1, 2008 |archive-date=February 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206152950/http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tumor-busting-viruses-2008-07/#sa_body |url-status=live }}</ref>
Upon joining the faculty at WashU in 2011, Curiel was appointed a professor of radiation oncology with tenure.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trustees grant faculty promotions, tenure |url=https://source.wustl.edu/2011/04/trustees-grant-faculty-promotions-tenure-4/ |publisher=Washington University in St. Louis |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=April 5, 2011 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809074940/https://source.wustl.edu/2011/04/trustees-grant-faculty-promotions-tenure-4/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He also merged his company VectorLogics, Inc. with DNAtrix, a biotechnology company developing targeted adenovirus-based oncolytic virus products for brain cancer.<ref name="biospace"/> In 2012, Curiel collaborated with scientist Mike Mathis from LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport to test the adenovirus on colon cancer in mice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brumble |first1=Melody |title=Curing cancer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116369532/curing-cancer/ |access-date=February 3, 2023 |work=The Times |date=February 23, 2012 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042915/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116369532/curing-cancer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These experiments resulted in the discovery that the adenovirus could target tumor blood vessels in mice without affecting healthy tissues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gene therapy method targets tumor blood vessels |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131223181133.htm |publisher=Science Daily |access-date=February 3, 2023 |date=December 23, 2013 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116100022/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131223181133.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> His use of viral vector technology to optimize the immune system's response to vaccines earned him one of the 2015 Bear Cub Challenge award from the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evangelou Strait |first1=Julia |title=Bear Cub Challenge awardees announced |url=https://source.wustl.edu/2015/12/bear-cub-challenge-awardees-announced/ |access-date=February 3, 2023 |date=December 8, 2015 |archive-date=August 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816081820/https://source.wustl.edu/2015/12/bear-cub-challenge-awardees-announced/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the 2015–16 Zika virus epidemic, Curiel and Precision Virologics commercialized an adenovirus vaccine to prevent the disease and others.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feldt |first1=Brian |title=St. Louis startup attacking Zika raises $500,000 from Japanese firm |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2017/03/31/st-louis-startup-attacking-zika-raises-500-000.html |access-date=February 3, 2023 |publisher=St. Louis Business Journal |date=March 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402235322/https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2017/03/31/st-louis-startup-attacking-zika-raises-500-000.html |archive-date=April 2, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, he received funding from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences to support his research into discovering new therapeutics for genetic diseases.<ref>{{cite web |title=$2.2 million supports research into genome editing |url=https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/2-2-million-supports-research-into-genome-editing/?_ga=2.173959779.1726846658.1673624002-1912827062.1667268974 |publisher=Washington University in St. Louis |access-date=February 3, 2023 |date=December 3, 2019 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042919/https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/2-2-million-supports-research-into-genome-editing/?_ga=2.173959779.1726846658.1673624002-1912827062.1667268974 |url-status=live }}</ref> This eventually developed into a new approach to facilitate the "CAR-T" immunotherapy that makes it cheaper and more patient-accessible.<ref>{{cite web |title=SIX FACULTY PROJECTS LEAP TOWARD COMMERCIALIZATION |url=https://skandalaris.wustl.edu/blog/2020/05/11/six-faculty-projects-leap-toward-commercialization/?_ga=2.58551721.2062877625.1590495506-217950204.1576680912 |publisher=Washington University in St. Louis |access-date=February 3, 2023 |date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205042929/https://skandalaris.wustl.edu/blog/2020/05/11/six-faculty-projects-leap-toward-commercialization/?_ga=2.58551721.2062877625.1590495506-217950204.1576680912 |url-status=live }}</ref>
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Curiel harnessed gene therapy and viral vectors to develop therapeutics and vaccines to combat the novel coronavirus.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Louis scientist developing 'no shot' COVID-19 vaccine |url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/mid-south/st-louis-scientist-developing-no-shot-covid-19-vaccine/ |publisher=NewsNation |access-date=January 13, 2023 |date=January 23, 2021 |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923142452/https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/mid-south/st-louis-scientist-developing-no-shot-covid-19-vaccine/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Early in the pandemic, Curiel and Michael S. Diamond re-engineered Adenovirus to carry the Sars-Covid2 spike gene in order to protect against infection and sterilize the upper airways. Their single-dose, nasal vaccine was proven successful in mice and nonhuman primates which led them to begin trials in India with Bharat Biotech.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD creates world's first nasal COVID-19 vaccine, approved in India |url=https://infectiousdiseases.wustl.edu/michael-s-diamond-md-phd-creates-worlds-first-nasal-covid-19-vaccine-approved-in-india/ |publisher=Washington University in St. Louis |access-date=January 13, 2023 |date=September 9, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113013839/https://infectiousdiseases.wustl.edu/michael-s-diamond-md-phd-creates-worlds-first-nasal-covid-19-vaccine-approved-in-india/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicklaus |first1=David |title=St. Louis startup licenses 'underdog' COVID-19 vaccine from Washington University |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/david-nicklaus/st-louis-startup-licenses-underdog-covid-19-vaccine-from-washington-university/article_0d162de2-d89b-51d4-85dc-ad9ae01e0924.html |access-date=February 3, 2023 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924132747/https://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/david-nicklaus/st-louis-startup-licenses-underdog-covid-19-vaccine-from-washington-university/article_0d162de2-d89b-51d4-85dc-ad9ae01e0924.html |archive-date=September 24, 2020}}</ref> Curiel was later named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors for his gene-therapy research.<ref>{{cite web |title=Curiel named to National Academy of Inventors |url=https://radonc.wustl.edu/curiel-named-to-national-academy-of-inventors/ |publisher=Washington University in St. Louis |access-date=January 13, 2023 |date=February 16, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206163954/https://radonc.wustl.edu/curiel-named-to-national-academy-of-inventors/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In late January 2023, the nasal vaccine received approval from India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh Rana to be added to the primary 2-dose schedule.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Das |first1=Basudha |title=India gets its first intranasal vaccine for COVID for Rs 800 per dose |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/coronavirus/story/india-gets-its-first-intranasal-vaccine-for-covid-for-rs-800-per-dose-367688-2023-01-26 |website=businesstoday.in |access-date=February 3, 2023 |date=January 26, 2023 |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128032724/https://www.businesstoday.in/coronavirus/story/india-gets-its-first-intranasal-vaccine-for-covid-for-rs-800-per-dose-367688-2023-01-26 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Google Scholar id |wqdLBzIAAAAJ}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Curiel, David T.}} Category:1956 births Category:21st-century American biologists Category:American cancer researchers Category:American medical academics Category:American vaccinologists Category:COVID-19 researchers Category:Emory University School of Medicine alumni Category:Jewish American scientists Category:Living people Category:People from Douglasville, Georgia Category:University of Groningen alumni Category:University of West Georgia alumni Category:Washington University School of Medicine faculty