Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Office:  851 WIDB

Office Phone:  801-422-2416

Email:  richard_robison@byu.edu

Education

BS, Brigham Young University (1978)

MS, Brigham Young University (1980)

Ph.D., Brigham Young University (1988)

Research Interests

It has been known for many years that the immune system, in it’s normal functional state, has the ability to both detect and destroy cancerous cells.  When cancer occurs, it is usually due to either the cancer cell’s ability to avoid immune detection, or some type of immune dysfunction.  The former is most common.  If the body’s immune system could be prompted to recognize the cancer cell as one deserving destruction, then most cancers, even some which have metastasized, could be effectively treated.  Our laboratory is actively doing research on naturally-occurring compounds which stimulate immune function.  We are using papillomavirus-induced benign epithelial tumors (warts) in experimental animals to investigate compounds that are capable of activating the immune system towards the prevention and destruction of these tumors.  To date, we have used the immune-activating bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes, to successfully regress papillomas in cattle, and the substances bryostatin and prostratin to regress and slow the formation of papillomas in rabbits.  Bryostatin is a substance obtained from a marine invertebrate, while prostratin is found in the bark of a tree native to Samoa.  We are currently striving to identify the cellular mechanisms responsible for these observed phenomena.

Student Involvement/ Requirements

During any given semester there are 10 - 12 undergraduates in my lab.  I take undergraduates after their freshman year.  Student must have taken Micro 265 and Chem 107.  The more experience the student has with molecular techniques, the more attractive they will be as candidates for the research.  Spring and Summer are good times to start.  Students will work in the lab for a year and a half, and will work mostly with myself, graduate students, and full-time research associates.  The work is publication oriented and undergraduates do appear on publications.  The research is funded by DHS and NIH. 

Publications

Gilbert SG, Robison RA (1995): Effect of bryostatin 1 on experimentally-induced rabbit papillomas. Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting. Abstract #A-3.

 Hall H, Teuscher C, Urie P, Boden B, Robison RA (1994): Induced regression of bovine papillomas by intralesional immunotherapy. Therapeutic Immunology 1:319-324.

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology