Clinical and Translational Science

Dr. Robertson graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1969, with a B.A. in Germanic and Slavic Languages. He attended the Arnamagnaen Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark before receiving his medical degree from Vanderbilt University Medical School in 1973. He went on to complete an internship and residency in Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Robertson was a postdoctoral fellow in Clinical Pharmacology at Vanderbilt for two years before accepting a position as assistant chief of Service in Medicine and instructor in Medicine at Johns Hopkins in 1977. In 1978, Robertson returned to Vanderbilt as assistant professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, became an associate professor in 1982, then rose to professor in 1986. He spent one year as a visiting professor in the Department of Molecular Endocrinology at National, then served as a visiting professor in the Department of Anatomy and Embryology at University College in London. In 1993, Robertson became director of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Vanderbilt University and also took the position of director of the Division of Movement Disorders in the Department of Neurology, which he held until 2000. Along with his current roles as professor of Medicine and Pharmacology and professor of Neurology, Robertson is currently the Elton Yates Professor of Autonomic Disorders, director of the General Clinical Research Center and director of the Center for Space Physiology and Medicine for Vanderbilt University. Robertson currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the World Life Foundation, the NASA Microgravity Human Research Committee, the Merck Advisory Board, and the editorial boards of American Journal of Medicine, Autonomic Neuroscience and Clinical Autnomic Research. He is also associate editor for the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Dr. Williams’ group’s first major goal is the identification of the genetic underpinnings of endocrine factors related to cardiovascular (CV) risk in hypertension and diabetes with the ultimate goal of using genetic markers to develop individualized, personal treatment programs for patients with these diseases. His is a translational research group with interdisciplinary focus in humans and at the bench. The group's major focus in human studies is on careful phenotyping of patients with hypertension and diabetes relative to cardiovascular risk factors. The research focuses on evaluating hormones that can modify vascular contractility and/or salt handling. The major current thrusts are the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), kallikrein, cortisol, adducin, the beta-2 adrenergic receptor and ion transport systems. The second major goal is to determine the role of aldosterone in producing CV disease at molecular, cellular, organ, whole animal and clinical levels. Recent studies suggest that aldosterone has a wide range of effects including inducing microvascular ischemia, thrombosis, fibrosis, and inflammatory responses many of them potentially mediated by aldosterone’s interaction with caveolins and two recently discovered proteins---striatin and lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). Techniques employed include whole animal physiological studies using normal animals, those made hypertensive and those genetically modified (e.g. knock-outs and transgenics). Molecular and cellular techniques include gene arrays using chip technology, proteomics, confocal microscopy, electrophysiology and in situ hybridization. Finally, the group has just begin the first proof of concept clinical trial for using genetic information to provide personalized medicine.

• Section I. Fundamental Principles1. Introduction to Clinical Research2. Patient-Oriented Research3. Clinical Trials4. Introduction to Epidemiology5. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute: Current Approach to Funding Clinical Research and Future Directions6. Health-Care Technology Assessment (HTA)7. Health Services Research: Translating Discovery and Research Into Practice and PolicySection II. Approaches8. Measurement of Biological Materials9. Imaging Tools in Clinical Research: Focus on Imaging Technologies10. Imaging Tools in Human Research: Focus on Image-Guided Intervention11. Nanotechnology in Clinical and Translational Research12. The Use of Questionnaires and Surveys13. Information Technology14. Principles of Biostatistics15. Good Clinical Practice and Good Laboratory PracticeSection III. Human Genetics16. Introduction to Human Genetics17. Epidemiologic and Population Genetic Studies18. Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism19. Statistical Techniques for Genetic AnalysisSection IV. Human Pharmacology20. Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology21. Adverse Drug EventsSection V. Societal Context of Human Research22. Translating Science to the Bedside: The Innovation Pipeline23. Regulatory Environment24. Ethical Issues in Translational Research and Clinical Investigation25. Clinical Research in the Public EyeSection VI. Research in Special Populations26. Research in Special Populations: Acute Illnesses; Critical Care; and Surgical Patients27. Research in the Emergency Care Environment28. Psychiatric Disorders29. Research in Special Populations: Geriatrics30. Clinical Research in Neurology31. Research in Pediatrics32. Cancer as a Paradigm for Translational and Clinical Biomedical Research33. Maintaining an Emphasis on Rare Diseases With Research Initiatives and Resources at the National Center for Advancing Translational SciencesSection VII. Infrastructure34. Clinical and Translational Science InfrastructureSection VIII. Education, Training and Career Choices35. Education, Training and Career Choices: Training Basic, Clinical, and Translational Investigators36. A Stepwise Approach to a Career in Translational Research37. Physician Careers in the Pharmaceutical IndustrySection IX. Research in Academia38. Industry-Sponsored Clinical Research in Academia39. Governmental Support of Research40. The Role of Nonprofit, Nongovernmental Funding in Support of Biomedical Research41. Modern Drug Discovery and Development42. Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Sector Support of ResearchSection X. Prospectus43. The Future of Clinical Research