Robert A. Cramer, Jr

Robert A. Cramer, Jr is Professor of Fungal Pathogenesis in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Dartmouth College's Geisel School of Medicine. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of Aspergillus fumigatus pathogenesis, particularly hypoxia responses in host-pathogen interactions and therapeutic development for invasive aspergillosis.

Dr. Cramer earned his M.S. in Plant Pathology from Colorado State University studying Fusarium oxysporum, completed his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech under Dr. Christopher Lawrence investigating Alternaria brassicicola genetics, and conducted postdoctoral training at Duke University Medical Center with Drs. John Perfect and William Steinbach on A. fumigatus.

His laboratory investigates how A. fumigatus adapts to mammalian lung environments through genetic, genomic, and murine infection models. Current research emphasizes fungal biofilm formation, metabolic adaptations during hypoxia, transposon-mediated strain variation, and novel antifungal strategies targeting lipid metabolism and immune pathways. The lab actively explores how oxygen modulation at infection sites could improve therapeutic outcomes.

Analysis of recent publications reveals consistent focus on A. fumigatus molecular pathogenesis, including biofilm metabolism, strain diversity mechanisms, antifungal resistance reversal, and host immune responses. His work bridges fundamental fungal biology with translational applications for invasive fungal infections.

Major recognitions include:

• Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases (2014)
• Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (2020)

Dr. Cramer mentors graduate students Matthew James (programmed cell death), Angus Johnson, Nicole Kordana, and Katie Quinn (metabolic heterogeneity). He serves as co-director of the Marine Biological Laboratory's Molecular Mycology course and contributes to national fungal research training. His lab maintains active collaborations investigating host immune responses and antifungal drug development.

The Cramer Laboratory operates within Dartmouth's Department of Microbiology and Immunology, fostering a collaborative environment that values diverse perspectives in infectious disease research. Current initiatives focus on translating hypoxia response mechanisms into clinical interventions for immunocompromised patients with invasive aspergillosis.