Javier Gordon Ogembo, Ph.D.

626-256-4673
Javier Gordon Ogembo, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Immuno-Oncology
Research Area
  • Understanding the Biology of Oncogenic Viruses and Their Entry and Replication Mechanisms, Particularly of Oncogenic Herpesviruses, with An Aim to Develop Virus-specific Strategies to Prevent or Treat Infection and Virus-associated Cancers.
Academic Appointments
  • Director, City of Hope Global Oncology & Diabetes Initiative
  • Professor, Department of Immuno-Oncology
Research Teams
Immuno-Oncology
Javier Gordon Ogembo graduated with a Ph.D. from Nagoya University, Japan, and trained as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School, Boston. His laboratory research is currently focused on elucidating entry mechanisms and infection outcomes of three gamma-herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), rhesus lymphocryptovirus (rhLCV) and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), with a goal of developing prophylactic and therapeutic strategies, including vaccines and immunotherapies.
 
In addition, Dr. Ogembo has interest in global health oncology research, particularly understanding the epidemiology of EBV, KSHV and HPV (human papillomavirus); preventing cancer through early screening of at high-risk populations; and assessing the acceptability, feasibility, and optimal delivery strategies of various vaccines.
 

Areas of Research

  • Development of candidate prophylactic vaccines against human gamma-herpesvirus infection and their associated cancer
  • Development of monoclonal antibodies and CAR T cells as immunotherapeutic strategies against cancers caused by oncogenic viruses
  • Characterization of infection and pathogenesis of human and nonhuman primate gamma herpesvirus infections in vitro and in vivo
  • Identification of cellular proteins that interact with gamma-herpesviruses glycoproteins to mediate productive viral infection
  • Development, calibration, and deployment of oncogenic virus diagnostic kits
  • Global health-oncology

Education & Experience

Degrees

  • 2008, Ph.D., Virology and Biotechnology, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

  • 2002, M.Sc., Tropical Entomology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare

  • 1999, B.Sc., Horticulture, Egerton University, Nairobi, Kenya

Professional Experience

  • 2020-present, Associate Professor, Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2018-2020, Assistant Professor, Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2016-2018, Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2012-2016, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA

  • 2010-2012, Adjunct Professor, Northeastern University, College of Professional Studies, Boston, MA

  • 2010-2012, Adjunct Lecturer, Emerson College, Boston, MA

  • 2009-2012, Adjunct Lecturer, Northeastern University, Boston, MA

  • 2008-2012, Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

  • 2008-2012, Laboratory Safety Officer, Beth Israel Medical Deaconess Center, Boston, MA

  • 2008-2012, Teaching Assistant, Harvard Medical School, Boston, CA

  • 2008-2012, Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

  • 2005-2008, Teaching Assistant, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

  • 2002-2003, Teaching Assistant, Cell and Molecular Virology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

  • 2001-2002, Visiting Scientist, Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, United Kingdom

  • 1999-2001, Research Assistant, International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi

Research

Dr. Ogembo's research is focused on several aspects of host pathogen interactions, with specific focus on the mechanisms by which oncogenic viruses [Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and human papillomavirus (HPV)] bypass cellular barriers and host immune responses, a critical step required for the development of effective vaccines.

Over the years, Dr. Ogembo's work resulted in the development of novel virus-like particles (VLP)-based polyvalent candidate vaccines comprised of EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1), latent membrane protein 2 (cancer biomarkers), and several viral glycoproteins capable of inducing high neutralizing antibody titers and protective T-cell responses in mouse models. We are currently extending this work into the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against KSHV and HPV associated cancers.

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • 2009-2012, Irvington Postdoctoral Fellow, Cancer Research Institute

  • 2008-2009, Postdoctoral Fellowship, NIH-Harvard Medical School

  • 2004-2008, Japanese Government Scholar, Monbukagusho

  • 2003-2004, Innovation Research Fund Fellow, Witwatersrand University

  • 2002-2002, Research Scholar, Horticulture Research International

  • 2001-2002, African Regional Postgraduate Program in Insect Science, ICIPE

  • 1995-1999, Kenya Government Scholar, The Government of Republic of Kenya

Memberships

  • The American Society of Virology

  • American Association of Immunology

  • American Society of Microbiology

  • The Japanese Society of Sericultural Science

  • The African Association of Insect Scientists

  • African Regional Postgraduate Programme of Insect Scientist

  • Feedforth

  • Sambaza Group

  • The World Mind Networks

Publications

  • Escalante GM, Foley J, Mutsvunguma LZ, Rodriguez E, Mulama DH, Muniraju M, Ye P, Barasa AK, Ogembo JG. A Pentavalent Epstein-Barr Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Elicits High Titers of Neutralizing Antibodies against Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in Immunized Rabbits. Vaccines (Basel). 2020 Apr 6;8(2). doi: 10.3390/vaccines8020169. PubMed PMID: 32268575; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7349562.
  • Mutsvunguma LZ, Rodriguez E, Escalante GM, Muniraju M, Williams JC, Warden C, Qin H, Wang J, Wu X, Barasa A, Mulama DH, Mwangi W, Ogembo JG. Identification of multiple potent neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus gp350 protein with potential for clinical application and as reagents for mapping immunodominant epitopes. Virology. 2019 Oct;536:1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2019.07.026. Epub 2019 Jul 30. PubMed PMID: 31377598; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6733660.
  • Muniraju M, Mutsvunguma LZ, Foley J, Escalante GM, Rodriguez E, Nabiee R, Totonchy J, Mulama DH, Nyagol J, Wussow F, Barasa AK, Brehm M, Ogembo JG. Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Glycoprotein H Is Indispensable for Infection of Epithelial, Endothelial, and Fibroblast Cell Types. J Virol. 2019 Aug 15;93(16). doi: 10.1128/JVI.00630-19. Print 2019 Aug 15. PubMed PMID: 31142670; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6675886.
  • Mulama DH, Mutsvunguma LZ, Totonchy J, Ye P, Foley J, Escalante GM, Rodriguez E, Nabiee R, Muniraju M, Wussow F, Barasa AK, Ogembo JG. A multivalent Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-like particle vaccine capable of eliciting high titers of neutralizing antibodies in immunized rabbits. Vaccine. 2019 Jul 9;37(30):4184-4194. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.04.071. Epub 2019 Jun 11. PubMed PMID: 31201053; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6876619.
  • Cholli P, Bradford L, Manga S, Nulah K, Kiyang E, Manjuh F, DeGregorio G, Ogembo RK, Orock E, Liu Y, Wamai RG, Sheldon LK, Gona PN, Sando Z, Welty T, Welty E, Ogembo JG. Screening for cervical cancer among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in Cameroon using simultaneous co-testing with careHPV DNA testing and visual inspection enhanced by digital cervicography: Findings of initial screening and one-year follow-up. Gynecol Oncol. 2018 Jan;148(1):118-125. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.11.002. Epub 2017 Nov 16. PubMed PMID: 29153541.
  • Andersen MS, Howard E, Lu S, Richard M, Gregory M, Ogembo G, Mazor O, Gorelik P, Shapiro NI, Sharda AV, Ghiran I. Detection of membrane-bound and soluble antigens by magnetic levitation. Lab Chip. 2017 Oct 11;17(20):3462-3473. doi: 10.1039/c7lc00402h. PubMed PMID: 28905952; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5642277.
  • DeGregorio G, Manga S, Kiyang E, Manjuh F, Bradford L, Cholli P, Wamai R, Ogembo R, Sando Z, Liu Y, Sheldon LK, Nulah K, Welty T, Welty E, Ogembo JG. Implementing a Fee-for-Service Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Program in Cameroon: Challenges and Opportunities. Oncologist. 2017 Jul;22(7):850-859. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2016-0383. Epub 2017 May 23. PubMed PMID: 28536303; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5507645.
  • Barasa A, Ye P, Phelps M, Arivudainambi G, Tison T, Ogembo JG. BALB/c mice immunized with a combination of virus-like particles incorporating Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) envelope glycoprotein B and gH/gL induced comparable serum neutralizing antibody activity to UV-inactivated KSHV. Oncotarget, 2017. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.15605 
  • DeGregorio G, Manga S, Kiyang E, Manjuh F, Bradford L, Cholli P, Wamai R, Ogembo R, Sando Z, Liu Y, Sheldon LK, Nulah K, Welty T, Welty E, Ogembo JG. Implementing a nurse led fee-for-service cervical cancer screening and treatment program in Cameroon: challenges and opportunities. The Oncologist Global Health and Cancer, 2017. In Press. 
  • Perez E, Foley J, Tison T, Silva R, Ogembo JG. Novel Epstein-Barr virus-like particles incorporating gH/gL-EBNA1 or gB-LMP2 induce high neutralizing antibodies and EBV-specific T-cell responses in immunized mice. Oncotarget, 2016. PMID: 27926486
 

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