Robert Tower

Robert Tower is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, holding appointments in the Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma and the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research. His research focuses on musculoskeletal biology, investigating cellular interactions under physiological conditions and molecular changes post-injury to understand regenerative versus fibrotic healing outcomes. He is supported by grants from the NIH and Department of Defense.

Education: BS in Molecular Genetics and MS in Cell Biology from the University of Alberta, followed by a PhD in Germany at Christian Albrechts University. Postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University.

Research Interests: The Tower Lab employs multi-omics approaches (single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics) to study mesenchymal-immune cell interactions in stem cell niches. Key topics include musculoskeletal development, repair mechanisms, and the role of sensory nerves in bone regeneration. Current projects address heterotopic ossification, fibrosis, and metabolic pathways influencing bone mineralization.

Grants & Support: NIH and DoD grants fund investigations into regenerative medicine and trauma-induced pathologies. The lab collaborates with institutions like the James and Levi labs on musculoskeletal repair studies.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Tower Lab, dedicated to translating omics data into therapeutic strategies for musculoskeletal disorders. Recent lab additions include Katelyn Hornfischer and Achira Shah (Oct 2024).