Rate My Professor Darren Shafren

Professor Darren Shafren is a Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, with a focus on Immunology and Microbiology, in the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He holds a PhD and a Bachelor of Science (Honours), both from the University of Newcastle. Previously, he served as Associate Professor of Virology in the Faculty of Health at the same institution. Shafren's research specializations include virology and oncolytic virotherapy, the molecular biology of picornaviruses, the potential use of viruses as anti-cancer agents, carcinogenesis, microbiology, and oncology. He has supervised the completion of ten PhD theses, primarily on the application of oncolytic Coxsackievirus A21 as a treatment for cancers such as pancreatic, lung, melanoma, glioma, prostate, and breast cancer.

Professor Shafren developed CAVATAK®, an oncolytic virus based on Coxsackievirus A21, which prompted the founding of Viralytics in collaboration with the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute. This company was acquired by Merck & Co. in 2018 for $502 million AUD. As co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ImmVirX, he oversees the advancement of novel oncolytic RNA viruses, including IVX037, which commenced Phase 1a clinical trials in 2023 and a Phase 1b trial with Innovent Biologics in 2024 targeting advanced colorectal, gastroesophageal, and ovarian cancers. Notable publications encompass "Systemic Therapy of Malignant Human Melanoma Tumors by a Common Cold-Producing Enterovirus, Coxsackievirus A21" (2004), "Oncolysis of vascular malignant human melanoma tumors by Coxsackievirus A21" (2005), "Potent Oncolytic activity of human enteroviruses against human prostate cancer" (2008), "Systemic targeting of metastatic human breast tumor xenografts by Coxsackievirus A21" (2008), and "Enhanced oncolysis mediated by Coxsackievirus A21 in combination with doxorubicin hydrochloride" (2012). In 1998, he received the HMRI Young Medical Researcher of the Year award. His contributions have spurred international research collaborations across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, alongside substantial commercial impact through job creation and investment exceeding $40 million for ImmVirX.