Robert Sebra

Robert Sebra, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He also serves as Director of The Center for Advanced Genomics Technology and Director of Technology Development for the Genomics Core Facility. Dr. Sebra is a faculty member of the Icahn Genomics Institute, where his research focuses on developing and applying advanced genomic technologies to understand disease mechanisms and improve translational outcomes across multiple disease areas.

Dr. Sebra's research spans a wide range of genomic applications, with particular emphasis on cancer genetics, infectious disease, and molecular biology. His laboratory specializes in creating and applying bulk and single-cell molecular methods to generate highly resolved genomic data for variant discovery and annotation. His work integrates single-molecular and cellular genomics data with assays to assess chromatin accessibility, proteomics, and epigenetics to decipher factors of pathogenesis versus normal cellular functions. Key research areas include developing novel molecular methods, advancing high-throughput functional genomics, characterizing whole genomes for disease associations, analyzing pathogen transmission, and translating genomic data in oncologic diseases including gynecologic and breast cancers.

Analysis of Dr. Sebra's recent publications reveals a strong focus on cutting-edge genomic technologies and their application across diverse disease areas. His work prominently features long-read sequencing approaches, single-cell multi-omics, and spatial transcriptomics to investigate cancer heterogeneity, HIV reservoir characterization, and neurological disorders. A recurring theme is the development and application of novel genomic methodologies to address previously intractable biological questions, particularly in the areas of tumor microenvironment analysis, viral persistence mechanisms, and cellular heterogeneity in complex tissues.

Dr. Sebra has established significant leadership roles within Mount Sinai's genomic research infrastructure, directing both The Center for Advanced Genomics Technology and the Technology Development arm of the Genomics Core Facility. His work bridges basic genomic technology development with clinical translation, particularly in cancer and infectious disease applications. As evidenced by his extensive publication record, Dr. Sebra collaborates widely across disciplines, contributing genomic expertise to studies ranging from HIV persistence to disc degeneration to cancer immunotherapy. His industry relationship with Panacent Bio, where he serves as Founder/Co-Founder/Partner, further demonstrates his commitment to translating genomic discoveries into practical applications.