Research Interests The laboratory works on gene therapy approaches for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and arthritis. For treatment of diabetes, we are examining the ability of IL-1Ra expression in transplanted syngeneic islets to block prevent apoptosis in the NOD mouse and are attempting to block allogeneic islet rejection using transfer to islets of genes encoding immunosuppressive factors such as CTLA-4-Ig, sCD40-Ig, sFAS-Ig, and IL-10. For the treatment of arthritis, we have been working on 1) development of direct delivery methods, using both viral and non-viral vectors, for transferring genes to rabbit synovium; 2) screening of potential therapeutic genes including IL-1 and TNF-alpha inhibitors, anti-inflammatory cytokines, soluble adhesion factors, and TIMPs; 3) development of methods for treating autoimmune diseases systemically through the delivery of therapeutic proteins using T-cells and dendritic cells; and 4) using gene transfer to examine the role of specific proteins in the pathogenesis of arthritis. In addition, the laboratory is developing gene based therapies for cancer by transfer of immunostimulatory genes either directly to tumors or to immunomodulatory cells such as dendritic cells. In particular, we are examining if the anti-tumor effects of IL-12 can be stimulated through the use of other immunostimulatory protein including cytokines (i.e. GM-CSF, IL-10), cell surface molecules (i.e. B7.1, CD40L, CD27L) and apoptosis/necrosis-inducing proteins (i.e. p53, HSV tk). Finally, the laboratory is working on the identification, characterization and application of transduction peptides, able to deliver large protein complexes to cells.   Selected Publications Schugar RC, Robbins PD, Deasy BM. Small molecules in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Gene Ther. 2008 Jan;15(2):126-35. Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD. Signaling mechanisms involved in the response to genotoxic stress and regulating lifespan. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2008;40(2):176-80. Davé SH, Tilstra JS, Matsuoka K, Li F, Karrasch T, Uno JK, Sepulveda AR, Jobin C, Baldwin AS, Robbins PD, Plevy SE. Amelioration of chronic murine colitis by peptide-mediated transduction of the IkappaB kinase inhibitor NEMO binding domain peptide.J Immunol. 2007 Dec 1;179(11):7852-9. Nixon AJ, Goodrich LR, Scimeca MS, Witte TH, Schnabel LV, Watts AE, Robbins PD. Gene therapy in musculoskeletal repair. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Nov;1117:310-27. Review. Bianco NR, Kim SH, Morelli AE, Robbins PD. Modulation of the immune response using dendritic cell-derived exosomes. Methods Mol Biol. 2007;380:443-55. Complete Publication Listing   Grant Support JDRF: Gene and cell based approaches for abrogation of autoimmunity in Diabetes. Role: Principal Investigator NIH: Cytokine gene therapy of cancer: Preclinical studies (PI: Storkus). Role: Director, Project 3, Co-PI on Core B NIH: Humoral and cellular tolerization approaches against autoimmunity. Role: Co-PI NIH: Cancer Center Support Grant – Vector Core. Role: Co-PI   Other Links MMG Faculty Webpage University of Pittsburgh

Paul D Robbins , Ph.D., Full Professor Office:  W1242 Lab:W1209, E1201 Phone:(412) 648-9268 Fax: (412) 383-8837 probb@pitt.edu   Academic Affiliations Dept. of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Molecular Medicine Institute University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Member, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Graduate Program   Education 1980 B.A. Biology Haverford College Haveford, PA 1985 Ph.D. Molecular Biology University of California/Berkeley 1986-1990 Postdoc Molecular Biology MIT/Whitehead Institute Cambridge, MA