Robert Marr

Dr. Robert Marr serves as Associate Professor & Assistant Dean for Research at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS), with appointments in both the Chicago Medical School and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. He is affiliated with the Department of Foundational Sciences and Humanities, Neuroscience, and is a key investigator at the Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Therapeutics and the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine.

Dr. Marr received his undergraduate degree in applied biochemistry from the University of Guelph in Canada, followed by a PhD in Molecular Biology, Genetics and Cancer from McMaster University, where he worked on gene therapy for cancer under Dr. Frank Graham. He completed postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies with Dr. Inder Verma, focusing on gene transfer technology for Alzheimer's disease.

His research primarily centers on neurodegenerative diseases, with special emphasis on Alzheimer's disease mechanisms and potential therapies. Dr. Marr investigates molecular pathways related to amyloid-beta clearance, particularly the role of neprilysin-2 (NEP2), and develops gene therapeutic approaches targeting cerebral inflammation in dementia. His work also explores the connections between traumatic brain injury and dementia, and utilizes induced human neurons for disease modeling and regenerative medicine applications.

Analysis of Dr. Marr's recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational neuroscience, with work spanning molecular mechanisms, animal models, and potential therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. His research demonstrates consistent progression from basic molecular studies to more complex disease modeling and therapeutic development.

Dr. Marr's scientific achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards:

• Lee Nielson Roth Award for Cancer Research from McMaster University (1997)
• Awards from Medical Research Council of Canada (1998)
• Awards from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2000)
• Excellence in Research Award from American Society for Gene Therapy (2003)

As Assistant Dean for Research, Dr. Marr oversees research administration while maintaining an active laboratory program. His current NIH-funded projects focus on developing gene therapeutic approaches to suppress cerebral inflammation in dementia and investigating intracellular organelle deficits in Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Marr has established productive collaborations with researchers at DePaul University and maintains strong connections with the broader neuroscience community through editorial work for Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.