Randall J. Roper

Randall J. Roper is a Professor of Genetics in the Department of Biology at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), within the School of Science. His research focuses on understanding the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying Down syndrome, particularly through mouse models to study DYRK1A gene triplication and its effects on skeletal and neural phenotypes. He directs the IUPUI Graduate Mentoring Center and co-chairs the Preclinical Committee of the Trisomy 21 Research Society.

Education:

• B.S. in Microbiology (Molecular Biology emphasis), Brigham Young University
• Ph.D. in Immunology and Genetics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genetics and Development, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Research Interests: Dr. Roper’s work integrates developmental biology, genetics, and neuroscience to explore how trisomy 21 impacts skeletal and cognitive traits. His lab investigates DYRK1A inhibitors as potential therapeutics and collaborates with clinical partners at Riley Hospital to bridge preclinical findings with human observations. Key areas include neural crest cell development, sexual dimorphism in skeletal deficits, and genetic variability influencing Down syndrome severity.

Awards:

• Alvin S. Bynum Mentoring Award (IUPUI)
• IUPUI Trustees Teaching Award
• LSAMP Mentor of the Year

Advising & Mentorship: As Director of the Graduate Mentoring Center, Dr. Roper emphasizes training the next generation of scientists through hypothesis-driven research. His mentorship programs have been recognized for fostering undergraduate and minority student success.

Labs/Teams: Primary research lab at IUPUI focuses on Down syndrome pathogenesis, with affiliations to the Trisomy 21 Research Society and Riley Hospital’s clinical research network.