Robert G. Salomon

Robert G. Salomon is the Charles Fredrick Mabery Professor of Research in Chemistry at Case Western Reserve University and holds a secondary appointment as Professor of Ophthalmology in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. With a career spanning over four decades at Case Western since 1973, Dr. Salomon leads the Lipid Research Group focused on understanding the role of lipid oxidation in disease processes and developing new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Salomon received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1966, followed by a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1971. He completed postdoctoral studies at both the University of Wisconsin and Indiana University before joining Case Western Reserve University, where he progressed from Assistant Professor to his current named professorship.

Dr. Salomon's research bridges chemistry, biology, and medicine with groundbreaking work on lipid oxidation products. His laboratory discovered critically important compounds including levuglandins and isolevuglandins - highly reactive oxidized lipids that contribute to disease through reactions with proteins and DNA. His work has established connections between lipid oxidation and conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, and cancer. The research employs a multidisciplinary approach combining organic synthesis, analytical chemistry, immunology, and cell biology to investigate disease mechanisms and develop potential interventions.

Analysis of Dr. Salomon's recent publications reveals a continued focus on the biochemical and pathological effects of lipid oxidation products, particularly their role in retinal diseases and cancer. His work demonstrates how compounds like HOHA lactone and carboxyethylpyrroles contribute to disease mechanisms through protein modification, inflammation, and cellular dysfunction, with significant implications for understanding disease progression and developing targeted therapies.

• Mortar Board 'Top Prof' Award (2003)
• Cleveland Clinic Innovator Award (2006)
• Editorial Advisory Board, Chemical Research in Toxicology (2009-)
• Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Lipids (2009-)
• Editorial Advisory Board, Organic Chemistry International (2009-)
• NIH Synthetic and Biological Chemistry A Study Section (2012-16)
• Director, Visual Sciences Research Center Tissue Culture & Hybridoma Core (2015-)
• Associate Editor, Free Radical Research (2019-)

Dr. Salomon's Lipid Research Group operates from the Millis Science Center at Case Western Reserve University, working in a laboratory previously occupied by Nobel Laureate George A. Olah. His laboratory features extensive capabilities for HPLC analysis, radiochemical experiments, cell culture (bacterial and mammalian), immunological studies, organic synthesis, and tissue fractionation. Through strong collaborative interactions with biomedical researchers at the CWRU School of Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Dr. Salomon's research extends into sophisticated mass spectroscopic analyses, animal studies, and clinical investigations on human subjects.