Robert Hammer

Dr. Robert Hammer is Professor of Biochemistry at UT Southwestern Medical Center, holding the Graydon Heartsill Professorship in Medical Science. His laboratory pioneered transgenic modeling techniques, including early growth hormone fusion genes that demonstrated dramatic growth effects in mice. Research spans metabolic regulation, cholesterol homeostasis, and genetic basis of diseases using engineered rodent models.

Notable contributions include developing the first HLA-B27 transgenic rat model for spondyloarthritis, demonstrating acetate dependence in tumors, and identifying mechanisms linking ribosomal proteins to liver development. Current projects investigate cancer metabolism, neurodegenerative pathways, and ribosomopathy phenotypes.

Dr. Hammer directs graduate training in cancer biology and genetic diseases. His work established foundational transgenic methodologies used worldwide for disease modeling.