The USF Health Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation (ITVI) traces its origins to a landmark partnership formed in the summer of 2024, when globally acclaimed virologist Dr. Robert C. Gallo joined USF’s Morsani College of Medicine as the James P. Cullison Professor of Medicine, launching both the new virology Institute and the USF-hosted international headquarters for the Global Virus Network (GVN), an international coalition of eminent human and animal virologists from 90+ Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in 40+ countries.

Dr. Gallo’s decision to relocate from the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, an institute he co-founded in 1996 after 30 years at the National Cancer Institute, to Tampa Bay followed decades of pioneering contributions, including the discovery of human retroviruses (HTLV‑1 and HTLV‑2), the co-discovery of HIV as the cause of AIDS, and the development of the HIV blood test. In 2011, he co-founded the Global Virus Network to create a unified international response to viral threats.

As part of the move, Dr. Gallo assembled a world-class team of investigators, reinforcing existing virology research at USF. This team will drive an ambitious agenda spanning viral oncology, emerging pathogen preparedness, and pandemic resilience, all housed within USF’s cutting-edge lab facilities, which were opened in 2022 as part of its Research Park.

Further expanding his local impact, in July 2024, Dr. Gallo became head of the newly formed Microbial Oncology Program at Tampa General Hospital’s Cancer Institute, where he is advancing investigations into microbial oncogenesis, such as the role of viruses and select bacteria in the initiation and progression of human cancers.

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