Trailblazing biotech innovator and proud UB alumn Jeffrey M. Ostrove, Ph.D. (’75), is paying it forward in a big way — donating $50,000 to establish a new biology scholarship for future generations of Purple Knights. “I have a warm place in my heart for University of Bridgeport,” Ostrove shares. “I went there not knowing what I was going to do with my life — and came away prepared for the future.”
Although he grew up in a modest household, Ostrove’s spirit of giving was instilled in him from an early age. “My mother used to donate $5 to the City of Hope Cancer Center because she believed it mattered,” he recalls. “As a 25-year-old graduate student making just $3,600 a year, I donated $25 to PBS because I believed in its mission.”
That small act sparked a lifelong commitment to philanthropy in both his personal and professional life.
A love for Biology — born at UB
Initially unsure if he would even attend college, Ostrove enrolled at UB and immersed himself in a wide array of classes, including biology, chemistry, immunology, microbiology, and liberal arts courses like music appreciation and art history.
In addition to working as a math tutor, Ostrove joined a biology research lab investigating the immune system of the North American eel, a species uniquely adapted to live in both saltwater and freshwater environments. While he didn’t carry this area of research into his career, Ostrove credits this experience as cementing his passion for biology. “I was working in the lab, getting exposed to science, and loving it.”
His scientific focus led him to pursue a Ph.D. in virology and molecular biology at the University of Florida College of Medicine. From there, Ostrove embarked on a distinguished career in medical research, contributing to the development of innovative therapeutics — publishing approximately 60 papers in journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine. He played a pivotal role in some of the earliest clinical trials in gene therapy, developing ways to test the safety of the new technologies.
“I feel so fortunate that I’ve had a life working on the development of new medicines,” he says. “You’re working hard on important problems. The work keeps your brain active, and your days fly by. It never felt like a job — it always felt like a calling.”
“It never felt like a job — it always felt like a calling.”
After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Ostrove joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH), working in the clinical virology department. Though tenure was offered, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to the private sector, where he joined a Maryland-based biotechnology company and founded his first biotech company in 1992.
As a pioneer in the emerging field of gene therapy, Ostrove played a key role in the first clinical trials for cystic fibrosis and contributed to many others. Over the course of his career, he founded eight biotechnology companies and led six of them — including Ceregene, AbVitro, Genstem, Locana, and Stelios Therapeutics. In the past decade, he has also collaborated with faculty at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine to launch several innovative startups.
His groundbreaking work has supported the development of treatments for a spectrum of conditions, from cancer and genetic disorders to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS, as well as various cardiac diseases.
To raise support and awareness for these groundbreaking treatments, Ostrove gave public and private talks across the globe. “As CEO, you have to be a spokesperson and a salesperson,” he says. “You need to explain why you’re doing what you’re doing and how it’s going to help patients and society.”
He recalls the terrible nerves before his first major talk at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in front of hundreds of leading scientists — but over time, he grew comfortable speaking to medical professionals, investors, and regulatory bodies like the FDA.
After a lifetime of work dedicated to advancing medicine, Ostrove feels grateful to have had opportunities to make an impact. “It’s humbling. We tackled difficult problems and raised significant funding to develop new treatments,” he reflects. “When you think about it, it’s all part of giving back.” His most recent gift — supporting UB biology students — will help open doors for those who need financial assistance.
Jeffrey Ostrove’s story is a powerful example of how one student’s journey can evolve into a lifetime of innovation, leadership, and generosity. From humble beginnings to global impact, he has dedicated his career to advancing medicine and mentoring the next generation of scientists. With his latest gift to University of Bridgeport, Ostrove is planting the seeds for future breakthroughs — ensuring that tomorrow’s biologists have the support they need to follow their own callings, just as he did decades ago. “UB gave me a foundation,” he says. “Now, I’m honored to help build someone else’s.”
Want to be part of the next UB success story? When you give to UB, you’re not just supporting a university. You’re shaping futures, fueling ambition, and making moments that matter. Your impact starts now — donate to UB today!
Eric D. Lehman is the director of publications and associate professor of English at University of Bridgeport. He is the author or editor of 22 books, including “New England Nature, A History of Connecticut Food,” and “Bridgeport: Tales from the Park City.” His biography of Charles Stratton, “Becoming Tom Thumb,” won the Henry Russell Hitchcock Award from the Victorian Society of America and was chosen as one of the American Library Association’s outstanding university press books of the year. His novella “Shadows of Paris” and novel “9 Lupine Road” were finalists for the Connecticut Book Award. He has been consulted on diverse subjects and quoted by The Atlantic Monthly, USA Today, the BBC, the History Channel, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, and The Wall Street Journal.