Samuel Rabkin

Samuel Rabkin is the Thomas A. Pappas Professor of Neurosciences at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), specializing in neurosciences and oncology. His research focuses on oncolytic herpes simplex viruses (oHSVs) for cancer therapy, particularly glioblastoma. He leads projects on viral vector design, immune system interactions, and tumor biology. Rabkin has extensive NIH funding as Principal Investigator for grants such as R01CA160762 and R21CA164726, targeting tumor pathways and glioblastoma stem cells.

His work spans over 194 publications, emphasizing oncolytic virotherapy, immunology, and neuro-oncology. Key collaborations include co-authors like Hiroaki Wakimoto, Robert Martuza, and Howard Kaufman. Rabkin's lab at the MGH Brain Tumor Research Center develops novel oHSV mutants and investigates their efficacy in preclinical models. His research bridges gene delivery, immunotherapy, and cancer biology, with a focus on translating discoveries into clinical applications.

Recent studies include characterizing oHSV immune interactions, enhancing viral efficacy via cytokine-armed vectors, and developing combination therapies (e.g., HDAC inhibitors, photodynamic treatment). Rabkin's contributions span therapeutic development, molecular mechanisms, and preclinical validation, positioning him as a leader in cancer virotherapy and neuro-oncology.