Robert Reis

Robert Reis, D.Phil is a Professor of Geriatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), affiliated with the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the College of Medicine. His research focuses on aging mechanisms, neurodegenerative diseases, and protein homeostasis, with a particular emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease, protein aggregation pathology, and drug development. He leverages computational biology, proteomics, and model organisms like C. elegans to explore aging-related molecular pathways and identify therapeutic targets.

Key research areas include:

• Role of protein aggregation in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases
• Development of small molecule inhibitors targeting aggregation pathways
• Cryoprotectant toxicity mitigation and stress response mechanisms
• Aspirin’s neuroprotective effects via aggregation inhibition
• Genomic instability in cancer and myeloma progression
• Age-related muscle decline and mitochondrial dysfunction

His work has advanced understanding of Alzheimer’s pathogenesis, with breakthroughs in ezetimibe’s off-label neuroprotective potential and the discovery of TDZD analogs extending healthspan. He also investigates homologous recombination defects in multiple myeloma and uses machine learning for drug repurposing.

Notable contributions include:

• Web-based proteomic analysis tools (LOOA)
• Photothermal disruption of aggregates in Huntington’s models
• Identification of universal aging transcriptomic signatures
• Preclinical validation of novel anti-amyloid therapies

His research integrates molecular biology, pharmacology, and computational methods to bridge basic science and translational medicine, targeting age-associated diseases across multiple organ systems.