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Robert P. Donaldson, Ph.D. |
Professor of Biology
Department of Biology and R.L. Weintraub Chair |
| Director of the GW Howard Hughes Medical
Institute for Undergraduate Education in Computational Molecular
Biology |
Department of Biological Sciences
The George Washington University
Lisner Hall 348, 2023 G Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20052
E-Mail: robdon@gwu.edu
Lab: +1 (202) 994-6931
Office: +1 (202) 994-6094
Fax: +1 (202) 994-6100
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| Robert P. Donaldson explores the functions of
proteins in the peroxisomes, which are subcellular organelles
found in all animal and plant cells. The proteins in this type
of organelle are involved in the metabolism of fats and by products
of photosynthesis. Peroxisomal metabolism bypasses energy conservation
and does not generate ATP. Instead reactive oxygen intermediate
such as hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radicals and hydroxyl
radicals are produced. Their NSF funded investigations have
concerned proteins in the membranes of peroxisomes that receive
electrons (as NADH) from metabolic processes occurring within
the organelle and that possibly create reactive oxygen intermediates.
They are also investigating proteins that detoxify reactive
oxygen intermediates. As a member and chairman of the Institute
for Biomedical Science (IBS) Curriculum Committee he helped
to develop and implement the core curriculum for GW Institute
for Biomedical Sciences, including the course, BMSC210 that
he taught directly. The six Biomedical PhD programs served are
Biochemistry, Genetics, Pharmacology, Oncology, Immunology,
and Neuroscience. Also, some Biology graduate students take
these courses. Each year 15 to 20 students have gone through
this curriculum, including PhD students in our NIH Genetics
program. In the fall of 2001 a team of GW faculty, including
Dr. Donaldson, submitted a proposal to the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute to establish an undergraduate curriculum and research-training
program in the area of Computational Molecular Biology (CMB).
They received $1.7 million in funding for this program, which
includes support for two faculty persons, one in Proteomics/Protein
Biochemistry and one in Computer Science. The objective of this
program is to give undergraduates opportunities for interdisciplinary
course work in Biology and Computer Science and for research
experience in the laboratories of research scientists affiliated
with the Institute in this proposal and with the IBS. He will
be directing the CMB program with the cooperative efforts of
faculty from Computer Science and the IBS. |
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