Mavis Agbandje-McKenna’s lifelong commitment to teaching and research
Authors: Barry J. Byrne, Angela L. McCall, Beverly L. Davidson, R. Jude Samulski
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2021)

Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, PhD, has passed away after a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 57. We write this tribute on behalf of her commitment and contribution as a mentor and collaborator. Her path to a career in science began with her escape from civil war in Nigeria as a child and studying in London, where she earned her PhD in 1989. There she met her life-long research partner and husband Robert McKenna. In this partnership, they set off on another uncharted journey to solve the mystery of the viral structure for both a pathogenic virus and other unique members of the parvovirus family, especially the key member, adeno-associated virus (AAV). In these early days, there was only the faint notion that AAV would someday transform the landscape of therapy for genetically defined disease. She and Rob came to the University of Florida (UF) in 1999, when the gene therapy program was just getting underway and the crosstalk between basic and translational scientists was the oxygen that fueled the early discovery of AAV basic science and clinical translation. Mavis was not only a world class scientist, but her character and passion were also unparalleled, especially in her unending search for new knowledge. She and Rob pioneered the detailed structure of parvoviruses, which contributed to major advances in the field of gene therapy. Using cryo-electron microscopy, they mapped the surface structures and symmetry of the viral capsid proteins that define the way various types of AAV interact with cellular receptors. This structural map led the McKenna lab to a collaboration with our group, using sera from animals and patients exposed to AAV to study the interaction of antibodies with the virus structural proteins, and they created a number of crucial reagents that identify unique epitopes of AAV. These studies paved the way for Mavis and longtime collaborator Aravind Asokan to launch StrideBio, Inc., which stands for structured inspired design. The goal of StrideBio is to merge findings from the structural map of the AAV surface and cellular receptors with the clinically relevant goal of expanding the inclusion of patients in need of gene therapy drugs. These approaches will contribute to a therapeutic pipeline from a wide array of biopharma and pharma companies, which are poised to transform the future of medical practice. Over 20 years at UF, she chaired 22 PhD and 2 MSc student thesis committees and served as member of countless other educational commitments at UF and around the world. Her lab family grew with each new year of trainees and alumni, and they faithfully gathered at each American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) annual meeting. Her commitment to teaching was honored by the College of Medicine’s Exemplary Teacher Award a record 10 times (2009–2019). She was also the three-time recipient of the medical school Outstanding Teacher Award (2008–2010) and UF’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Distinguished Mentor Award (2006). In 2018, she was named the Innovator of the Year, and ASGCT honored Mavis with the Career Achievement award this past year (her lecture will be published by ASGCT). Our scientific community at UF learned of Mavis’s ALS diagnosis in 2013 following her participation in the March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon. Despite being an avid runner, she had difficulty on that day and later learned the cause of her fatigue. She later wrote “having trouble walking too fast or too far, but at least I can still walk. Hope to be around for a while yet ….” Since that time, and over the next 7 years, she did not address the issue much with colleagues other than in a matter-of-fact way that it was preferable to meet in her office to accommodate her mobility challenges. As she was the organizer of the International Parvovirus meeting in Miami, there was a group that wanted to recognize and honor her efforts over the years. She steadfastly refused to accept any recognition that diverted attention away from the meeting. We can all learn from her focus and drive throughout her career, especially in recent years when she managed to continue to advance her love for teaching and science in the face of a debilitating health challenge. She was always present in the moment and did not dwell on the past or try to predict the future. Rob was there by her side every moment on this amazing journey of discovery and love of science and their partnership. We will surely miss her insight and wisdom, but we will be guided by her example to mentor the next generation of scientists who will indeed share her passion for discovery. The Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, Ph.D., Scholarship Fund has been established to honor Dr. Agbandje-McKenna and her belief that everyone should pay it forward. The income from this fund will be awarded to aspiring young students in science to help them establish themselves in the field of their passions with the goal of advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scientific community. Funding will be used, among other things, for travel grants to attend scientific meetings, scholarships to help with educational expenses, awards for outstanding scholarly achievements, and help in preventing financial barriers that hinder success at graduate school. Here are ways that you can contribute:•Online giving: https://www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/025545•Call 1-877-351-2377 and reference Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, Ph.D., Scholarship Fund – #F025545•Mail a contribution to the UF Health Office of Development, Attn: Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, Ph.D., Scholarship Fund, #F025545, P.O. Box 100243, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. Note: this obituary is also being published in Human Gene Therapy (https://doi.org/10.1089/hum.2021.29157.alm.rev).