Prof. Shyam S. Mohapatra, PhD is currently the Vice Chair of Medicine, and Director of the Nanomedicine Research Center-Division of Translational Medicine at the University of South Florida. His Lab has developed specific expertise in designing viral and non-viral vectors for gene transfer and delivering genes by novel methods into mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo. He has been developing targeted gene/drug therapy using polymeric nanoparticles for viral infections (RSV, HIV), cancers and Traumatic Brain Injury.

For his work, he was awarded the outstanding biotech achievement award, and Sigma Xi 2004-05 Outstanding Faculty Researcher Award, Tampa Bay. His research is funded by NIH, Office of Naval Research, VA Merit Review, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Florida Biomedical Research Foundation and he has served as a member of review panels of many national and international granting agencies including NIH.