Office Address
801 16th Ave NE
Austin, MN 55912
United States
Lab Address
United States
Robert Clarke
Executive Director, The Hormel Institute; Professor
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics
We collect multiplatform (including genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic) data from human breast cancer cell lines, animal models and patients. Analyze these data using machine learning and artificial intelligence based algorithms to build predictive models of drug resistance. Finally, we validate model predictions mechanistically in experimental in vitro and in vivo models.
Research statement
Dr. Clarke’s research is involved in mechanistic translational and transdisciplinary studies in breast cancer, with an emphasis on endocrine responsiveness and drug resistance. Focusing initially on the interactions of hormones and cytotoxic drugs in breast cancer cells, research expanded into studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of how breast cancers become resistant to endocrine and cytotoxic therapies. Dr. Clarke’s laboratory takes a systems biology approach, applying state-of-the-art ‘omics’ (genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic), bioinformatic, cellular and molecular biologic technologies to cell cultures, animal models, and human specimens from clinical studies. A long time collaboration with computer scientists and engineers has enabled much of this work
Education and background
- 1980 BSc Biological Science, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK
- 1982 MSc Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- 1986 PhD Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- 1988 Postdoc, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- 1999 DSc Biochemistry. Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
- Fellow, Royal Society of Biology (UK)
- Fellow, Royal Society of Medicine (UK)