Michael D. Robek

Michael D. Robek is Professor and Chair of the Immunology and Microbial Disease department at Albany Medical College's School of Medicine. With a PhD from Washington University in St. Louis (2000) and BS from Case Western Reserve University (1994), Dr. Robek leads research focused on hepatitis B virus (HBV) pathogenesis and immunity.

Dr. Robek's research centers on virus-host interactions, particularly examining how cytokines influence HBV replication and liver damage. His lab investigates both innate immune responses (focusing on type I and III interferons) and adaptive immune responses (particularly CD4+ and CD8+ T cell functions) in HBV infection. A major focus is developing therapeutic vaccination strategies to eliminate chronic HBV infection, with work on vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and alphavirus-based vaccine platforms.

His publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals spanning from 2010 to 2025, with recent work emphasizing T cell responses in HBV clearance, novel vaccine vector development, and mechanisms of immune activation. The research demonstrates a progression from basic interferon signaling studies to translational therapeutic vaccine development.

Dr. Robek has mentored numerous researchers who appear as co-authors on his publications, including Bailey, Chiale, Moshkani, and Marchese. His collaborative work extends across virology, immunology, and vaccine development fields.