Simon Christopher Robson

Dr. Simon Christopher Robson is a Professor of Anaesthesia at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Charlotte F. and Irving W. Rabb Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on purinergic signaling, immunology, and transplantation biology with applications in oncology, neuroscience, and vascular medicine.

Education

• MBChB (MD equivalent) with honors and distinction from the University of Cape Town (1978)
• PhD in Medicine and Immunology from the University of Cape Town (1988)

Dr. Robson’s research spans purinergic signaling pathways, particularly the CD39/CD73-adenosine axis, in diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia, ischemic stroke, cardiac arrest, and autoimmune hepatitis. He investigates how these pathways regulate immune responses, vascular function, and organ transplantation outcomes. His work includes targeting ectoenzymes for cancer therapy, endothelial-targeted CD39 for stroke, and hormonal influences (e.g., estrogen) on microvascular disease.

Scientific Awards

• Biennial Gold Medal, South African Immunology Society
• 2010 Robert C. Moellering Teaching Award
• 2015 Ambulatory Teaching Awards (Specialist)
• 2015 Honorary Fellowship, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI)
• 2016 Fellow, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)

Dr. Robson leads the Robson Lab, which explores purinergic metabolism in inflammation, thrombosis, and transplantation. He has secured multiple NIH grants, including projects on PGC-1α, purines, and postmenopausal heart disease, purinergic immunotherapy in leukemia, and thromboregulatory strategies for xenograft survival. His collaborations with institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital highlight his interdisciplinary impact.