Sven De Vos

Biography

As the Director of the UCLA Lymphoma program, Dr. Sven De Vos’ role is to provide a clinical trial portfolio covering the most promising novel agents and clinical trial concepts. The program has been very successful, and with more than 30 current trials, it makes cutting-edge novel treatments available to UCLA patients. In addition, through the affiliated TRIO-US clinical trial network, the program reaches out to more than 20 oncology offices, enabling their participation in UCLA investigator initiated or company-sponsored clinical trials. As the Chair of the JCCC Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), De Vos reorganized the board and ensure safe conduct of investigator initiated clinical cancer-related trials conducted by UCLA investigators. The goal of De Vos’ research laboratory activities is to identify novel targets and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of lymphomas. Specifically, they are investigating the role of pim kinases in lymphomagenesis and as therapeutic targets. In addition, they have developed lentiviruses that are pseudotyped with Sindbis E2 - single chain antibody (SCA) fusions or membrane-anchored SCAs for CD20 or CD30 targeted therapies in lymphomas. De Vos has the expertise, leadership, and motivation necessary to successfully carry out these two major projects. He has a broad background in translational oncology with a Ph.D. in experimental pathology, experience running a successful laboratory, and clinical expertise exemplified by being the principal investigator on many clinical trials, including investigator initiated studies. De Vos laid the groundwork for both projects, assembled two teams of collaborators, acquired funding, and lead his teams to reach important benchmarks on both projects which have been presented at national meetings. De Vos has a track record of translating basic science to clinical trial investigations and the pim kinase projects already has led to a first in human phase 1 study of a novel pim kinase inhibitor. De Vos’ laboratory provided more than 60 lymphoma cell lines to the UCLA Slamon TORL laboratory. Through that laboratory they test a wide spectrum of novel preclinical and clinical agents provided by pharmaceutical companies for anti-tumor activity. By correlating responses with molecular/genetic markers they are able to generate novel clinical trial concepts that are tested via investigator initialed trials at UCLA/TRIO-US.

Research Interest

Lymphoma, Stem Cell Transplant