Faculty
Dr. Robert S. Greene
Professor and Chair of Biology Biology
Email: rsg@niagara.edu
Phone: 716-286-8253
Bio
Dr Greene was appointed to the faculty as a Professor of Biology in 1981. He currently holds the position of Department Chair (1997-present). He received his Ph.D. in Physiology, SUNY at Buffalo (1982). His M.S. in Biology, Niagara University; (1977) and his B.S. in Biology, Niagara University (1975).; He currently teaches Intro to Oncology, Cell Physiology as well as many special topics courses.
Current Research Interests and Projects
The past five years research scholarship for me has in very large part been driven by the start-up and establishment of operations for the Academic Center for Integrated Sciences (ACIS's). Starting in August of 2004 with the official NYSTAR Gen*NY*sis Grant award released, and finishing in Spring of 2007 with the final expenditure for startup, the $5 million dollar center became fully operational in the summer of 2007. Supported by two major external grants from NSF for computing and The Cummings Foundation for the development of proteomics research and other grants totaling $341,000, ACIS's has significantly advanced student and faculty interdisciplinary research within Niagara. Importantly this work has also advanced into the Western New York research and biomedical communities. Our research partnerships with the NY State Center of Excellence at UB, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Hauptman Woodward Research Institute, the Heart Center of Niagara, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and Positron Corporation are strong evidence of the success ACIS's has demonstrated in this community. Perhaps the strongest example of the scholarly endeavors of ACIS's is our development of (a new research area for myself) the study of coronary artery disease (CAD). We in Niagara County have the dubious distinction of having the highest incidence of CAD in the nation. In collaboration with Dr. Mike Merhige of the Heart Center, and driven by the research efforts of Dr. Deborah Leonard and a cadre of students, we have begun to unravel some of the genetic components of CAD. We are very optimistic that this type of collaborative integrated research will spread into the areas of metabolomics and proteomics. The interdisciplinary research projects that are successfully ongoing now involve multiple biology, chemistry and psychology faculty and students, and in the future will expand to include computer science and nursing components. We have begun to publish our results in abstracts proceedings at major professional society meetings and have several manuscripts in preparation. I also maintain my collaborations with my colleagues at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y. and have an active faculty position there in the Natural Sciences. Our work contiues on photodynamic drugs like porphyrins and their induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by photoactivation, the mechanisms of regulation for gene expression and the design and testing of more efficacious photoactive agents for cancer therapies.
Current Research
The past five years research scholarship for me has in very large part been driven by the start-up and establishment of operations for the Academic Center for Integrated Sciences (ACIS’s). Starting in August of 2004 with the official NYSTAR Gen*NY*sis Grant award released, and finishing in Spring of 2007 with the final expenditure for startup, the $5 million dollar center became fully operational in the summer of 2007. Supported by two major external grants from NSF for computing and The Cummings Foundation for the development of proteomics research and other grants totaling $341,000, ACIS’s has significantly advanced student and faculty interdisciplinary research within Niagara. Importantly this work has also advanced into the Western New York research and biomedical communities. Our research partnerships with the NY State Center of Excellence at UB, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Hauptman Woodward Research Institute, the Heart Center of Niagara, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and Positron Corporation are strong evidence of the success ACIS’s has demonstrated in this community. Perhaps the strongest example of the scholarly endeavors of ACIS’s is our development of (a new research area for myself) the study of coronary artery disease (CAD). We in Niagara County have the dubious distinction of having the highest incidence of CAD in the nation. In collaboration with Dr. Mike Merhige of the Heart Center, and driven by the research efforts of Dr. Deborah Leonard and a cadre of students, we have begun to unravel some of the genetic components of CAD. We are very optimistic that this type of collaborative integrated research will spread into the areas of metabolomics and proteomics. The interdisciplinary research projects that are successfully ongoing now involve multiple biology, chemistry and psychology faculty and students, and in the future will expand to include computer science and nursing components. We have begun to publish our results in abstracts proceedings at major professional society meetings and have several manuscripts in preparation. I also maintain my collaborations with my colleagues at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y. and have an active faculty position there in the Natural Sciences. Our work contiues on photodynamic drugs like porphyrins and their induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by photoactivation, the mechanisms of regulation for gene expression and the design and testing of more efficacious photoactive agents for cancer therapies.
Current Involvement
I am currently engaged in 13 substantive committees and activities, and have completed service on three others. Highlights of current work include Chair of Biology, Academic Director of ACISs, Strategic Planning, Pre-Med, Promotion and Tenure, Middle State Co-Chair on Faculty, EPA Compliance and the Shepherd for the planned new science building. This of course is not to diminish the importance of my other active committees or activities (including printer use committee!) but is rather to demonstrate a depth and breadth of service that has truly been rewarding and hopefully has made a substantive and coordinated, coherent contribution to the operation and planning of University, department, faculty and student business. This ability to participate in these committees and activities has provided me a unique opportunity for new understandings across disciplines. Both academic and administrative service has allowed integration of this knowledge so as to be able to better synthesize plans, solve problems, and create opportunities for sustaining and advancing University, department, faculty and student goals and objectives. It has also been no small task during the past 5 years to manage budgets, including the start-up and operation of ACISs, totaling approximately $7.8 million dollars. Thus the opportunity to integrate many services at many levels has generated synergized combined and coordinated outcomes that advance the mission, goals and objectives of the University, our faculty and staff, our community, but most importantly our students.
Educational Background
A. Professional Preparation Ph.D. - 1982, Physiology, SUNY at Buffalo M.S. - 1977, Biology, Niagara University B.S. - 1975, Biology, Niagara University B. Appointments 2003-present Academic Director, Niagara University Center for Integrated Sciences 1981-present Professor of Biology, 1992 (Chair, 1997-present) Niagara University, NY 1993-present Assistant Cancer Research Scientist, Dept. of Natural Sciences, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 1982-1993 Associate Cancer Research Scientist, Dept. of Experimental Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 1983-1999 Major, United States Army Reserve, Retired, US ARMY Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD