Robert A Edwards

Robert A. Edwards, MD, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine. He is board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and specializes in molecular and autopsy pathology. His clinical and research work is centered at UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA.

• PhD in Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1995
• MD, Baylor College of Medicine, 1997
• Residency: Anatomic & Clinical Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan

Dr. Edwards' research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of colitis and colon cancer, particularly how inflammation, metabolic reprogramming, and the tumor microenvironment contribute to carcinogenesis. His work integrates molecular pathology, immunology, and systems biology to understand disease progression and identify therapeutic targets. Key areas include Wnt signaling, metabolic imaging, and host-microbe interactions in the gut.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in cancer metabolism, inflammation, and microbial pathogenesis, with studies published in Nature, Cell Host & Microbe, and JCI. These works highlight the interplay between immune responses, nutrient availability, and tumor growth in colorectal cancer.

Scientific contributions include:

• Patent on monoclonal anti-thioredoxin antibodies
• NIH-funded research on Wnt and metabolism in colon cancer
• Key findings on calprotectin, iron/manganese sequestration, and bacterial survival in the inflamed gut

Dr. Edwards is actively involved in mentoring and graduate education, serving in the Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical PhD program. He has held significant roles in NIH-funded grants, including as Co-Investigator on a U54 Cancer Systems Biology Center and as Shared Resource Core Director for the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant. His collaborative research spans immunology, cancer biology, and metabolic regulation.

He is affiliated with the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and contributes to both clinical diagnostics and translational research. His lab employs advanced techniques in molecular pathology, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and animal models of gastrointestinal disease.