Photo of Pramod K. Srivastava, Ph.D., M.D.

Pramod K. Srivastava, Ph.D., M.D.

Professor, Department of Immunology
Eversource Energy Chair in Experimental Oncology
Director, Center for Immunotherapy of Cancer and Infectious Diseases
Director, Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center
Academic Office Location:
Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue, L6100
Farmington, CT 06030-1601
Phone: 860-679-4444
Fax: 860-679-7905
Website(s):

Immunology Graduate Program

Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Pramod K. Srivastava, an accomplished leader in basic and translational research, is the director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Srivastava is a professor and interim chairman of the Department of Immunology, director of the Center for Immunotherapy of Cancer and Infectious Diseases, and part of the leadership team of the Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (CICATS). He holds the Eversource Energy Chair in Experimental Oncology.

He has earned international acclaim for his groundbreaking work in the immunological function of heat shock proteins and in cancer immunology, is widely published in scholarly journals and serves on editorial boards for several major journals in immunology.

View Dr. Srivastava's list of patents.

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
B.S.University of AllahabadBiology
M.S.University of AllahabadBotany (Palentology)
OtherOsaka UniversityMicrobial genetics
Ph.D.Centre for Cellular and Molecular BiologyBiochemistry
M.D.University of Connecticut School of MedicineMedicine

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
PostdoctoralYale University Molecular and Developmental Biology
PostdoctoralSloan-Kettering InstituteImmunology

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
Invited to serve as Reviewing EditoreLife Journal Development
Senior Editor, Cancer Immunology ResearchAmerican Association for Cancer Research
Permanent Member, Translational Immuno-OncologyStudy Section, NIH
AAAS Fellow (For distinguished contributions to the fields of cancer and neuroimmunology, particularly in delineating the heat shock proteins and temperature receptors in innate immunity, and neuropeptides for personalized cancer immunotherapy)AAAS
Member, Scientific Advisory CouncilCRI
UICC Roll of Honor
Mildred Scheel Lecturer at the Intl. Conf. on "Hyperthermia in Oncology", Munich
Irma T. Hirshl Award
Investigator Award of CRI
First Independent Research Support and Transition Award NIH
John Hans and Edna Alice Old Postdoctoral FellowshipCancer Research Institute
Gold Medal University of Allahbad
Award in Plant PhysiologyIndian Council of Agricultural Research
Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
AACR NextGen Grants for Transformative Cancer Research Scientific Review CommitteeResearch CommitteeMemberExternalNational20182020
Cancer Immunology Research (AACR)Research CommitteeSenior EditorExternalNational20132020
Research Advisory Council - UConnEducation CommitteeMemberUConn-StorrsState20132020
The Open Immunology JournalProfessional/Scientific JournalEditorial BoardExternalNational20122020
Cell Stress SocietyAdvisory CommitteeAdvisory BoardExternalNational20062020
Human VaccinesEditorial BoardAssociate EditorExternalNational20052020
Tissue AntigensEditorial BoardEditorial BoardExternalNational20012020
Scientific Advisory Council, CRIAdvisory CommitteeMemberExternalNational19972020
Fellowship Committee of the CRIResearch CommitteeMemberExternalNational19962020
Immunology-Oncology study section, NIHStudy SectionMemberExternalNational19942021
Ad hoc member of several NIH and DoD study sections, several times a year.Study SectionAd Hoc MemberExternalNational19942021
American Association of ImmunologistsProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational
American Association of Cancer ResearchProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational
American Association for Advancement of ScienceProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational
International Society for VaccinationProfessional/Scientific OrganizationCharter MemberExternalInternational
Cell Stress Society Professional/Scientific OrganizationLife MemberExternalNational
Cancer Research InstituteResearch CommitteeMember, Steering CommitteeExternalNational2020
CICATS Advisory BoardAdvisory CommitteeMemberUConn HealthUniversity2020
Journal of ImmunologyProfessional/Scientific JournalReviewerExternalNational2020
NIAID and NIA (NIH)Advisory CommitteeReviewerExternalNational2020
Cancer Immunology and ImmunotherapyProfessional/Scientific JournalReviewerExternalNational2020
PNASProfessional/Scientific JournalReviewerExternalNational2020
Nature ImmunologyProfessional/Scientific JournalReviewerExternalNational2020
Search Committee for Gyn/Onc facultyEducation CommitteeMemberUConn HealthUniversity

Our laboratory’s research interests lie in four areas: antigen presentation by MHC I and MHC II molecules, immune response to cancer, viral immunity, and autoimmunity. Our pursuit of these areas is linked to a key set of observations made by our laboratory over the past 20 years. These observations are: (1) Heat shock proteins (HSP) isolated from cells are always associated with a broad array of peptides. These peptides are derived from the proteins present in the cell and together, the HSP-associated peptide profile represents the total protein/peptide repertoire of a cell including the antigenic repertoire. (2) The HSP-peptide complexes, whether isolated from cells, or reconstituted in vitro, are potent immunogens against the peptides and cells presenting those peptides. The immune response elicited by such complexes is heavily skewed towards a cellular T cell response. (3) HSPs have remarkable immunomodulatory properties which derive from their interaction with macrophage and dendritic cells through a receptor, identified by us as CD91. Our laboratory has used these observations to explore new key aspects of antigen presentation and to develop innovative approaches for therapy of cancer, infections and autoimmune disorders. It is our view that the HSP-peptide interaction is an evolutionary precursor to the MHC-peptide interaction and lies at the center of a wide array of immunological phenomena.

Accepting Lab Rotation Students: Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023


Lab Rotation Projects
The following constitutes most of what we do. Students are encouraged to create rotation projects out of any of these areas.


(1) We study antigen presentation and cross-priming. We have uncovered a key role of heat shock proteins, the most highly conserved and abundant proteins in living systems, in both of these phenomena, which are central to immunology.


(2) Our studies with heat shock proteins have lead to novel approaches to immunotherapy of cancers and infectious diseases, which are in Phase 3 clinical trials in over 200 hospitals worldwide.


(3) We have also shown heat shock proteins to elicit regulatory CD4+ T cells; the mechanism of this phenomenon as well as its application to therapy of autoimmune diseases are of continuing interest to us.


(4) This laboratory has a new-found interest in neuro-immunology. We do not have much of a track record in this area, as we just published our first paper in it. Our interest is driven by the many observations that demonstrate a clear link between the nervous and the immune systems. We aim to explore those links through new phenomena and their mechanisms at the molecular, cellular and organismal levels.

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

  • Cancer-generated lactic acid: a regulatory, immunosuppressive metabolite?
    Choi, Stephen Yiu Chuen; Collins, Colin C; Gout, Peter W; Wang, Yuzhuo The Journal of pathology 2013 Aug;230(4):350-5
  • Heat shock proteins in immune response
    Basu S, Srivastava PK. PIR: Heat Shock Proteins and Inflammation 2003 Jan;
  • Clinical implications of antigen transfer mechanisms from malignant to dendritic cells. exploiting cross-priming.
    Arina, Ainhoa; Tirapu, Iñigo; Alfaro, Carlos; Rodríguez-Calvillo, Mercedes; Mazzolini, Guillermo; Inogés, Susana; López, Ascensión; Feijoo, Esperanza; Bendandi, Maurizio; Melero, Ignacio Experimental hematology 2002 Dec;30(12):1355-64
  • Immunological properties of heat shock proteins are phylogenetically conserved.
    Robert, J; Ménoret, A; Srivastava, P K; Cohen, N Advances in experimental medicine and biology 2001 Jan;484237-49
  • Heat shock response for ischemic kidney preservation and transplantation.
    Kaneko, H; Perdrizet, G A; Schweizer, R T Nihon geka hokan. Archiv für japanische Chirurgie 1993 Jan;62(1):24-32
  • A novel IFN-gamma regulated human melanoma associated antigen gp33-38 defined by monoclonal antibody Me14/D12. I. Identification and immunochemical characterization.
    Giuffré, L; Isler, P; Mach, J P; Carrel, S Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 1988 Sep;141(6):2072-8
  • Cellular Immunity to Cancer
    Methods Series
  • Gp96 Molecules: Recognition Elements in Tumor Specific Immunity
    Srivastava, P.K. and Old, L.J. Human Tumor Antigens and Specific Tumor Therapy 63-71
  • Heat Shock Protein-Based Novel Immunotherapies
    Srivastava, P.K. Prous Science, Drug News and Perspectives
  • Heat Shock Protein-Peptide Interaction as the Basis for a New Generation of Vaccines Against Cancers and Infectious Diseases
    Srivastava, P.K. Journal of Biosciences
  • Heat-Shock Protein-Immune System Interactions
    Methods
  • Heat-Shock-Protein-Based Vaccines against Cancers and Intracellular Infections: Immunogenicity of Cancers
    Srivastava, P.K. Symposium in Immunology VI
  • Immunization with Soluble gp96 Antigens Elicits Tumor Specific T Cell Immunity
    Srivastava, P.K., Maki, R.G., Zhao, J.Q., Chang, T.J., and Heike, M. Cellular Immunity and the Immunotherapy of Cancer 307-314
  • Principles and Practice of the Use of Heat Shock Protein-Peptide Complexes for Immunotherapy of Human Cancer
    Srivastava, P.K., Kumar, S., and Mendonca, C. Biologic Therapy of Cancer Updates
  • Stress - Induced Proteins : Basis for a New Generation of Anti- Cancer Vaccines
    Srivastava, P.K. Stress Proteins in Medicine
  • Vaccination Against Human Melanoma
    Blanchard, T., Srivastava, P.K., Duan, F. Clinics in Dermatology

Conference Papers

Editorials

Other

Reviews

Title or AbstractTypeSponsor/EventDate/YearLocation
“What makes a good tumor antigen for purposes of immunotherapy?”LectureOSUCCC-PIIO Distinguished Professor IO Seminar2022April 29, Ohio State Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
Neoepitopes of Cancers: The Awesome Powers of Weakness and ScarcityLectureJAX Cancer Short Course2022Aug.19,31st Short Crse on Exper. Models of Human Cancer, Jackson Lab.
Cancer neoepitopes: Awesome powers of weak interactionsLectureArizona Department of Health Services, Biomedical Research Center2022November 3, University of AZ, College of Medicine - Phoenix, virtual
How to Define a "Good" Cancer neoepitope?Plenary LectureUniversity of Pittsburgh Immunology Seminar Series2019University of Pittsburgh
"Challenges in identification of cancer neoantigens: lessons from mouse models and a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced ovarian cancers"LectureWorld Vaccine Congress & Expo2019Washington, DC
"How to Identify a Good Tumor Rejection Mediating Neoepitope"Lecture7th Annual Immuno-Oncology Summit2019Boston, MA
"How to define a good cancer neoepitope?"Plenary Lecture48th Annual Autumn Immunology Conference (AIC)2019Chicago, IL
Antigen Processing and PresentationPlenary LectureEMBO 7th Workshop 2012The Netherlands
Toward New FrontiersLectureDay of Immunology 2012: 2012Prague, Czech Republic
Strategies for Clinical Oncology Drug DevelopmentPlenary LectureMolecular Med TRI-CON conference2011San Francisco, California
Cancer BiologyPlenary LectureInternational Symposium 2011New Delhi, India
Heat Shock Proteins in Biology and MedicinePlenary Lecture2010Woodshole, Massachusetts
Functional GenomicsPlenary Lecture2010Varanasi, India
Antigen Cross-Presentation ConferenceTalkGordon Research Conference2009Il Ciocca, Italy
Heat Shock Proteins in Biology and MedicinePlenary Lecture2008Woodshole, Massachusetts
The Biology of Extracellular Molecular ChaperonesTalk2007London, England
ImmunotherapyTalk2006Havana, Cuba
Regulators of Adaptive ImmunityTalk2006Erlangen, Germany
Melanoma and Other CutaneousTalk2006New York
Cancer Vaccines Talk2004New York City, New York
Basis & Clinical ImmunogenomicsTalk2004Budapest, Hungary
Vaccines & ImmunizationTalk2004Japan
Heat Shock Proteins & Modulation of Cellular FunctionTalkBiochemical Society2004London, England
Strategies for Immune TherapyTalk2004Germany
Autoimmune DiabetesTalk13th New England Regional Workshop 2003Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Perspectives in Melanoma ManagementTalk1st Annual European Conference2003Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cancer and HIV Vaccines: Shared LessonsTalk2003Manhattan, New York
Stress Responses in Biology and MedicineTalk2003Quebec City, Canada
Cancer Immunology and ImmunotherapyTalkInternational Summer School 2003Ionian Village Peloponese, Greece
Hyperthermic Oncology Talk2003Munich, Germany
Cancer Gene Therapy Talk2003Singapore
Cancer Vaccines and ImmunotherapyTalkWalker’s Cay Colloquium 2003Abaco, Bahamas
Basic Aspects of Tumor ImmunologyTalkKeystone Symposium2003
Research Opportunities in Cancer ImmunologyTalkAmerican Association of Immunologists and NCI 2003Bethesda, Maryland
ImmunologyTalkWinter School 2002Kovalam, Kerala, India
Autoimmune Diabetes MellitusTalkNew England Regional Workshop 2002Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Cancer PreventionTalkAACR2002New York City
The Biology of Heat Shock Proteins and Molecular ChaperonesTalkEMBO2002Warsaw, Poland
Vaccine ResearchTalk2002Baltimore, Maryland
Perspectives in Melanoma V: Scientific and Clinical Foundation for Future ProgressTalkThe University of Pittsburgh2001Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Hinterzartener KreisTalk2001Cadenabbia/Como, Italy
Basic Aspects of VaccinesTalk7th National Symposium2001Baltimore, Maryland
ImmunologyTalkWinter School 2001Kovalam, Kerala, India
Interfaces Between Innate and Adaptive ImmunityTalkKeystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology2001Keystone, Colorado
Molecular Biology of Stress ResponsesTalk2001Mendoza, Argentina
New Perspectives in Tunicate BiologyTalkIV “Anton Dohrn” Workshop2001Ischia, Italy
New Paradigms of Molecular Chaperones in the Postgenome EraTalk8th CGGH Symposium 2001Sapporo Japan
Molecular Interactions in Infection and ImmunityTalkInternational Congress of Immunology2001Stockholm, Sweden
Heat Shock Proteins: The Fountainhead of Innate and Adaptive Immune ResponsesTalkThe British Society for Immunology Congress 2000London, England
Heat Shock Proteins in Biology and MedicineTalkDana Farber Cancer Institute2000Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Heat Shock Proteins in Immune ResponseTalk2000Farmington, Connecticut
Cancer Vaccines TalkCancer Research Institute2000New York City, New York
Heat Shock Proteins: Immune, Stress Response and ApoptosisTalk2000Gdansk, Poland
Molecular Determinants of T Cell ImmunityTalk4th EFIS Tatra Immunology Conference2000Tatra Mountains, Slovakia
Cancer ImmunosurveillanceTalkCancer Research Institute1999New York, New York
Immunological Mechanisms of Tumor DefenseTalkJohannes Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz Klinikum1999Mainz, Germany
Unconventional Pathogen CountermeasuresTalkDARPA Conference 1999Monterey, California
New Strategies for Stimulating and Augmenting Host Resistance to Malignant CellsTalkRobert Steel Foundation International Symposium 1998New York, New York
Cancer Vaccine Week TalkCancer Research Institute Symposium1998New York City, New York
Cellular Targets of Viral CarcinogenesisTalkAACR1998Dana Point, California
Mechanisms of Immune Evasion by TumorsTalkNational Cancer Institute1998Washington, DC
Novel Methods for Enhancement of Immune Responses to Peptides/ProteinsTalkPfizer Mini-Symposium1998Groton, Connecticut
Graft-versus-Host & Graft-versus-Leukemia Reactions Talk1998Munich, Germany
Immunological Attacks on CancerTalkCold Spring Harbor Laboratory1997New York
Molecular Biology of Stress ResponseTalkBenares Hindu University1997Varanasi, India
Molecular Virology and Vaccinology TalkDrug Information Association1997Newport Beach, California
Cancer Immunity and ImmunotherapyTalkUCLA symposium 1997Copper Mountain, Colorado
Tumor ImmunologyTalkSymposium in Immunology VI1996Prague, Czechoslovakia
Cancer VaccinesTalkAmerican Association of Advancement of Sciences1996Baltimore, Maryland
Antigen PresentationTalk1995Oxnard, California
Cancer ImmunityTalkNobel Forum Conference 1995Stockholm, Sweden
Engineered Vaccines Against Cancer and AIDSTalk1995San Francisco, California
Deutsches Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG workshop on Immunological aspects of heat shock proteins and heat shock responseTalk1994
Cancer VaccinesTalkCancer Research Institute1994New York
Therapeutic Opportunities for Heat Shock ProteinsTalkIBC Conference 1994Cambridge, Massachusetts
New Approaches to Cancer TherapyTalkJohns Hopkins Oncology Center 1994Baltimore, Maryland
New Approaches to Cancer ImmunotherapyTalkAACR1994San Francisco, California
Biology of Heat Shock Proteins and Molecular ChaperonesTalkCold Spring Harbor Meeting 1994
Hyperthermia in Clinical OncologyTalkLudwig Maximilians, University of Munich1993Germany
Tumor ImmunotherapyTalkFASEB Conference 1993Vermont
Heat Shock in Multiple Sclerosis and Other DisordersTalk1993Galicia, Spain
Cellular Immunity to CancerTalk1993Taos, New Mexico
Tumor AntigensTalkAmerican Association of Immunologists 1992Anaheim, California
Allergology and ImmunologyPlenary LectureAustrian Society 1991
Nature of Tumor AntigensTalkAmerican Association of Immunologists1990New Orleans, Louisiana
'Molecular Basis of Tumor ImmunologyTalk1990Virginia
T Cell Immunity to Cancers TalkUCLA Symposium 1990
Influence of MHC Expression on Tumor Growth TalkNIH workshop 1988Annapolis, Maryland
Human Tumor Antigens and Specific Tumor TherapyTalkUCLA Symposium 1988
Recent Advances in Human Melanoma ResearchTalkCancer Research Institute 1987New York