Robert E. Hausman

Robert E. Hausman is a Professor of Biology and Director of Graduate Studies at the Boston University School of Medicine. He holds a PhD from Northwestern University (1971). His research focuses on cell adhesion complexes in developing multicellular organisms, particularly in chick nervous system neurons and glial cells. Key projects include studying integrins, cadherins, lipid rafts, and disulfide bonds in retinal cell adhesion mechanisms. His work revealed that disrupting these complexes halts differentiation and induces apoptosis. Recent efforts emphasize teaching, textbook revisions, and review articles in cell biology.

Education:

• PhD in Biology, Northwestern University, 1971

Research Interests: Cell adhesion signaling in retinal development, protein disulfide isomerase roles, molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation, and apoptosis regulation. His studies combine cell adhesion assays, mass spectrometry, and in situ hybridization to identify adhesion complex components and their signaling pathways.

Publications: Recent articles (2006–1997) explore extracellular matrices in retinal development, choline acetyltransferase expression, and retina cognin’s role in adhesion via disulfide bonds. Themes include molecular interactions, developmental signaling pathways, and gene expression regulation in chick models.

Awards: None explicitly listed in available texts.

Teaching & Advising: No active research or graduate student advising. Courses taught include BI203 Cell Biology, BI213 Honors Cell Biology, and BI708 Biochemical and Molecular Aspects of Development. Collaborations with co-authors (e.g., Pariser, Phillips) reflect past research contributions.

Labs & Affiliations: Associated with the BU Vision Research Core. Engaged with organizations like the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and the American Board of Ophthalmology.