Meller, Robert

Personal Information

Office: (404) 756-5789

Email: [email protected]

Home Address: 2108 Monticello St SW, Covington, GA, 30014

Professional Mailing Address: Dept. Neurobiology, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta GA, 30310

US Citizen: No Permanent Resident

Linkedin:                    https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-meller-b88886b2                     

Twitter:                       @strokelab

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/lab/Robert-Meller-Lab

ORCID ID:                 0000-0003-3528-8019

Education

Name of Institution: University of Oxford (Keble College)

Address of Institution: University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.

Dates of attendance: 1994-1999

Degree or certification earned: D.Phil. (Clinical Pharmacology)

Name of Institution: University of Bristol

Address of Institution: University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK.

Dates of attendance: 1991-1994

Degree or certification earned: BSc (Hons) Pharmacology.

Post Graduate Training

Name of institution: RS Dow Neurobiology Laboratories

Address of institution: Legacy Clinical Research and Technology Center, Portland, OR, 97210

Number of years attended: 2 (2000-2002)

Type of training: Characterized in vitro models of stroke and epilepsy to study the role of anti- and pro-apoptotic genes. 

Name of institution: DeMontfort University

Address of institution: Department of Pharmacology, DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK

Number of years attended: 1 (1999-2000)

Type of training: Investigated the effect of serotonin (5-HT) on synaptic plasticity and neurotrophins, using molecular biology and protein measurement techniques. 

Name of institution: Oxford University

Address of institution: Smithkline Beecham Center for applied Neuro Psychobiology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK

Number of years attended: 1 (1998-1999)

Type of training: Molecular biology, and investigated the effect of serotonin (5-HT) on brain neurotrophin expression. 

Name of institution: Institute of Psychiatry,

Address of institution: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Number of years attended: 1 (1997-1998)

Type of training: Project management, lab leadership and measurement of amino acid neurotransmitters in brain using HPLC

Employment History

Director Neuroscience Institute (Interim)

Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30310-1495

Jul 2025-present

Associate Director for Genomic Technology

Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30310-1495

Jan 2023-present

Professor

Department of Neurobiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30310-1495

Jul 2021-present                                            

Independent investigator of translational genomics/ neuroscience lab, focused on NGS point of care approaches for disease diagnosis.  Full Faculty Member with teaching and administrative duties.

Professor (Secondary position)

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30310-1495

Jul 2021-present                                            

Secondary position to enable participation in pharmcology teaching. 

Associate Professor

Department of Neurobiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30310-1495

Jul 2010-2021                                    

Independent investigator of molecular mechanisms of the neuronal response to sub-lethal stress.  Full Faculty Member with teaching and administrative duties.

Associate Professor (Secondary position)

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30310-1495

Jul 2010-2021                                    

Secondary position to enable participation in pharmcology teaching. 

Associate Scientist 

Cancer Research Legacy Clinical Research and Technology Center, 1225 NE 2^nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 97232, USA   

2008-Jul 2010                                                

PI of a breast cancer research project and co-PI of a Tumor Bank project with Dr K. T. Morris M.D.  

Associate Scientist 

Robert S. Dow Neurobiology Laboratories, Legacy Clinical Research and Technology Center, 1225 NE 2^nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 97232, USA   

2006-Jul 2010                                                

Promoted to Associate Scientist based on performance and success in obtaining independent grant funding.  Responsible for independent ischemic tolerance and epilepsy projects. 

Assistant Scientist

Robert S. Dow Neurobiology Laboratories, Legacy Clinical Research and Technology Center, 1225 NE 2^nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 97232, USA   

2004-2006                                                        

Promoted to Assistant Scientist based on performance and success in obtaining independent grant funding.  Responsible for in vitro ischemic tolerance and epilepsy projects in collaboration with Dr R. Simon.  

Senior Research Associate. 

Robert S. Dow Neurobiology Laboratories, Legacy Clinical Research and Technology Center, 1225 NE 2^nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 97232, USA   

2002-2004                                                      

Promoted to faculty position based on performance and to enable applications for independent grant funding. 

Honors and Awards

Wellcome Prize Studentship                         The Wellcome Trust                           (1994-1997)

Faculty Development Facilitator Award        Morehouse School of Medicine         (2016)

Excellence in Teaching Faculty Award         Morehouse School of Medicine         (2021)

Professional Societies

American Heart Association.

The Society for Neuroscience.

American Society for Human Genetics

Professional Service A. Extra mural

Assignment as Ad-Hoc Reviewer

Journal of Neuroscience, Pharmacological Research, Pediatric Research, Experimental Neurology, Neuroscience Letters, Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, Dev. Brain Research, Brain Research, Journal of Neurochemistry. Anesthesia & Analgesia, FEBS Letters, PLOSone, Molecular BioSystems, Epilepsia, Biomedical Research International, Acta Biomateriala, BMC Genomics, Neuroscience, Trans. Stroke Research, European Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Applied Physiology, Patterns. 

Editorial Board Member

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology August 2020, Frontiers in Genetics Science (associate)

Grant Review/ Study Section Member

Post-Graduate Fellowship Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (April 2026).

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (April 2026).

NIH 2025 BIND Study Section Adhoc member (Jan 12-13)

Post-Graduate Fellowship Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (March 2025).

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (March 2025).

NIH 2024_NSD-A Study Section (ad-hoc) June 2024-2025.

Post-Graduate Fellowship Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (March 2024).

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (March 2024).

NIH 2024_05 ZRG1 NV-H (13) B (March 2024)

Post-Graduate Fellowship Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (March 2023).

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (March 2023).

NIH 2023_05 ZRG1 NV-G (13) B March 2023

NIH 2023_05 ZRG1 NV-G (13) B June 2023

NIH Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) Genomic Diversity center March 2023

Neuroinsight postdoctoral program RCSI, Ireland,   Feb 2023

NIH 2022_ZRG1_NV_G13               (November 2022)

NIH 2022_ZRG1_NV_G13               (June 2022)

NSF NSF EPSCoR RII                                                                       (Sept 2022)

NSF BRC BIO                                                                                    Aug2022)

Reviewer, Post-Graduate Fellowship, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (April 2022).

Reviewer, Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council. (April 2022).

Reviewer, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council, Dublin. (April 2021).

Reviewer, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council, Dublin. (March 2020 - April 2020).

Reviewer, Outer Board Member, Irish Research Council, Dublin. (Nov2019).

Georgia CTSA Pilot Project Reviewer (2019)

Reviewer, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council, Dublin. (March 2019 - April 2019).

Reviewer, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council, Dublin. (March 2018 - April 2018).

NIH- NIMHD U54 study section (2017)

Reviewer, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council, Dublin. (March 2017 - April 2017).

Orien Moffit/M2Gen Molecular Dx Proposal Review Panel (2016)

Reviewer, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council, Dublin. (March 2016 - April 2016).

NIH- STTR (ETTN-M 11), NIH, Washington, DC. (June 25, 2015 - June 26, 2015).

NIH NHGRI (ZHG1 HGR-P ) Nov 2021

NSF IOS study section, Washington, DC. (March 2015 - April 2015).

Reviewer, Inner Board Member, Science Foundation Ireland, Dublin. (March 2015 - April 2015).

Program Organizer, Georgia Bio, Atlanta. (October 1, 2014 - October 30, 2014).

Reviewer, Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council, Dublin. (March 2014 - April 2014).

Service on Boards

Board of Directors COVIRT; 2020- present.

Other

Assessing the needs and barriers for developing data science curricula for MSIs 2019 Special Panel/ white paper.

NHGRI Genomics and Data Science Community Network (GDSCN) committee, exploring access of MSI’s to genomics.  Course content developer.  (2021-present)

Professional Service B. Institutional

AUC Data Science Faculty    (2019-2022)

Biomedical Repository Meeting (Strategic Plan) (2015-2019)

Biosafety Committee Member (Ad Hoc 2015- Present)

IT advisory Committee (2015-Present)

Department of Neurobiology Meeting (2010-present)

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Meeting

Departmental of Neurobiology Faculty advisory committee

Faculty professional development planning committee (2011-2015)

Faculty Compensation Plan Committee (2026)

GEBS course directors- (2016- present)

Genomics Institute planning committee (2019-present)

Graduate Admissions Committee (Ad hoc)

MSM COVID-19 Science Working Group (2020-Present)

MSM COVID19 Testing Laboratory Working Group (2020-2024)

MSM Data Science committee (Curriculum planning) (2019-2020)

MacLeish Lecture Organizing committee (Chair) (2025-present)

Neuroscience Curriculum committee (2015-present)

Neuroscience Institute Meeting (2010-Present)

Neuroscience strategic planning committee (ad hoc)

Research Development Committee (2012-2016, 2020-2025)

Research Advisory Committee Member (2025-present)

Student Laptop Committee (2017-2026)

Research Advisory Committee (2025-present)

Teaching Activities

Curriculum Development

            2024-2026       Neuroscience and Genomics PhD enrichment

2019-2020       Introduction to Data Science (CEGS/AUC Data Science Initiative)

2019-               Biomedical Genetics and Genomics Course

2017                Bioinformatics Course

2015                Genetics/ Bioinformatics lab course (workshop) Course director

2015                Neuroscience Techniques workshop. Course director

2014                Neuroscience III- Neurobiology of disease. Course director

2014                Bioinformatics graduate course- co director under development

2012-2014       Faculty Professional Development Series

2011-2014       Neuroscience I- Neuropharmacology track.  Course co-director with Prof. M. Benveniste.

2011-2012       Integrated Biomedical Course-Neuroscience focus.  Director Prof. P. Macleish, Co-developer Prof. M. Benveniste & R Meller.

2011    Essential Pharmacology for Biomedical Research GEBS 766-01, Morehouse School of Medicine. Course Director Prof. K. Russell.

Graduate Courses Taught

GEBS Courses

GEBS 703 Essentials of Neuroscience I (2013-2019)

Pharmacological Concepts I + II (N.Pharm), Bioavailability (Pharmacokinetics) (N.Pharm), Metabotropic Receptors (N.Pharm), Protein Kinases, TRKs, PKA, PKC nitric oxide (N.Pharm), Intracellular Signaling Cascades and Crosstalk I & II (N.Pharm), Presynaptic Release Mechanisms, Biochemistry (N.Phys), Postsynaptic density structure (N.Pharm)

GEBS 704 Essential of Neuroscience II (Spring 2014-2026)

Neurogenesis, Cell Death Mechanisms, Localized Protein Synthesis in Neurons, spatial transcriptomics

GEBS 705 Essentials of Neuroscience III- Neurobiology of Disease (2014-2020) (Course Director 2016-2019)

            Traumatic brain injury, Neuropsychiatric disorders, Drugs of Abuse, Alzheimers

GEBS 766 Essential Pharmacology for Biomedical Research GEBS (2013-2017)

            Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability, Neurodegeneration, 5-HT and Mood Disorders

GEBS 540 Critical Thinking in Neuroscience (2017-2020)

            Manuscript review with students

GEBS 710 Essential Bioinformatics I (2016-2019)

            4 credit hour course on programming with Linux and R for Bioinformatics analysis of Genomics data.

GEBS 528 Biomedical Genetics (2015- Present)

            Next generation sequencing, Data analysis using Galaxy, Basics of DNA, GWAS, ancestry analysis PRS, neuroscience example (Spinraza)

GEBS 528L Biomedical Genetics Lab (Course Director 2016-Present)

            Three-week workshop teaching molecular library building techniques, Operation of a Next generation sequencer, data analysis. 

GEBS 537 Integrated Biomedical Science

            Pre and Post Synaptic biology, motivation and Drugs of Abuse.

GEBS 555 Introduction to Data Science (Course Director 2016-Present)

            One week workshop teaching basics of R-based programming and data analysis approaches.

Medical Student Courses

MED 533 OS3 (Neurobiology) (2013-Present)

                        Basal ganglia and Parkinson’s disorder, the limbic system and reward, Mood disorders (Anxiety, schizophrenia and depression), Neuropharmacology.  Neuropharmacology lab, and gross brain anatomy lab

Masters in Medical Science

First Year Medical- Introduction to Neurobiology (2015-2017)

            Basal ganglia and Parkinson’s disorder, Mood disorders (Anxiety, schizophrenia and depression). 

Physicians Assistant Program

Pharmacology (2020- 2022)

            Antidepressants, Antischizophrenic drugs, and Drugs of Abuse

Course Director

GEBS 555 Introduction to Data Science                    2Credit hour                2019-present

GEBS 528L Biomedical Genetics Lab                       2 Credit Hour              2016-present

GEBS 705 Essential Neuroscience III                       2 Credit Hour              2016-2019

GEBS 710 Essential Bioinformatics I                                    4 Credit Hour              2018-2021

GEBS 703 Essentials of Neuroscience I(co-director) 4 Credit Hour              2014-2018

GEBS 528 Biomedical Genetics                                3 Credit Hour              2020

Training and supervisory roles

PhD Students

Jimmaline Hardy BS MS                                Graduated 2017          Currently Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania.

Tankya Simoneaux BS MS                            PhD Student                            (Left program)

Zulma Reyes-Benetez                                    PhD Student (Candidate)        In progress

Masters Students

Asia Payne BS                                    Graduated 2018          Current MD student, Wayne State University

Terryn Adams BS                               Graduated 2018          Currently MD candidate

Amirah Anderson BS                         Graduated 2020          MD Candidate

Tionna Johnson                                   Graduated 2020          MD school candidate

Praise Idowu                                       Graduated 2024          PhD candidate MSM

Tyler Oliver                                        Graduated 2025

Post Doctoral Fellows

Harriet Blankson                                 2024-present

Rashi Verma PhD                               2023- present

Emine Guven PhD                              2023- 2025 (Dulcze University Turkey)

Elham Amini PhD                              2022- 2024 (Currently at MSM)

Mian Xie M.D. Ph.D.                         Currently Research Associate at University of Virginia.

Simon Thompson Ph.D.                     Currently Research Scientist III at Mercy Hospital, MO.

Lisa Lukaesko Ph.D.                          Currently Agreements Officer at OHSU OR.

Liam Loftus Ph.D.                              Currently Founder of Cellcrusher Inc. Eire.

Sabine Stohr Ph.D.                             Currently Anesthesiologist, Germany.

Summer Students Mentored and Supervised

Tallus Howard (2025)

Cecelia Delmar (2024)

Malcolm Williams-Green (2023)

Tionna Johnson (2019)

Amirah Anderson(2018)

Asia Payne (2016)

Jaylun Smith (2016)

Shakeria Bonneparte (2015)

Jennifer Xiong (2014 / 2013)

Elizabeth Liu (2011)

Arthur Jeranian (2002)

Post-Graduate Committees

Patrick Pickard-                      MS Biomedical Science- Supervisor- K. Russell.  Graduated May 2013

Jimmaline Hardy BA              Thesis advisor.  Graduated May 2018

Eugene Chun BS                    Thesis committee member- Supervisor- R. Sloviter

Keri Harp BS                          Thesis committee member- Supervisor- J. Stiles

Adaugo Ohandjo BS               Thesis committee member- Supervisor- J. Lillard

Tankya Simoneaux BS MS    Thesis advisor

Alexandria Henry-Smith        Thesis committee member- Supervisor- Z. Xiong

JeNisa Manning                      Thesis committee member- Supervisor- W. Royal

Kaylin Carey                           Thesis committee member- Supervisor- J. Lillard

Mika Campbell                       Thesis Committee member – Supervisor M. Benveniste

Non-Credit Courses

Faculty Development (Part of the Office for Faculty Affairs Professional Development Series) (2011-2015) 

I developed an internal faculty and staff professional development workshop series.  Module topics included: Essentials of Leadership Training Session, Time Management, Conflict Management, Lean Leadership, and Effective Meetings. 

Other

Scientific Outreach Program

Eastside High School, Covington, GA – The Nervous System (Jan 2018)

Newton County Theme School, Covington, GA – 7^th grade- Stroke and Hypertension (2013-present)

Newton County Career Academy, Covington, GA  Brain presentation (Fall 2013)

Newton County Theme School, Covington, GA – 7^th grade Cell Biology course (Fall 2012)

Newton High School, Covington GA – AP course in stroke and hypertension (Fall 2012)

Bioinformatics Workshop, with Georgia BioEd Trust. Morehouse School of Medicine, Oct 10^th 2014

Scholarship and Research

Grant awards as Principal Investigator (** denotes awarded at MSM)

“Investigation into The Potential Use Of Osteopontin As A Neuroprotective Therapy For Stroke”. 

Medical Research Foundation of Oregon- 1 Yr grant

Period: Mar 1, 2003 – Feb 28, 2004.                                                                          $30,000

The purpose of this grant is to investigate the potential use of osteopontin to reduce cell death following cerebral infarct and to investigate the mechanisms of action of osteopontin.  Role: PI. 

“Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Endogenous Neuroprotection Modeled By Rapid Ischemic Tolerance” 

American Heart Association 0465430Z (PI: Meller)

Period: Jul 1, 2004- Jun 30, 2006                                                                               $110,000

This grant will support studies to investigate protein downregulation as a powerful endogenous neuroprotective mechanism in the brain activated during rapid ischemic tolerance.  Role: PI. 

“Protein Ubiquitination Based Neuroprotection For Stroke” 

NIH/NINDS R21 NS050669-01 (PI:Meller)

Period: Jan 12, 2005- Nov 30, 2006                                                                           $275,000

These studies will investigate our hypothesis that protein down regulation is a powerful endogenous neuroprotective mechanism in the brain using a proteomics approach. 

“Rapid Ischemic Tolerance : Ubiquitin-Mediated Structural Reorganization” 

NIH/NINDS R21 NS054023 (PI: Meller)                 

Period: Jul 1,2006- June 30, 2008                                                                              $275,000

This grant will investigate the degradation of fascin and MARCKS following preconditioning ischemia, results in cytoskeleton re-arrangement and disrupts NMDA receptor function thereby protecting the brain from ischemia. 

“Increasing cell death in cancer”

Good Samaritan Foundation, Portland, OR (PI: Meller)                              

Period: Apr 2008- Apr 2009                                                                                       $30,000

This grant investigates the cytotoxic profile of cancer agents in breast cancer associated cell lines.  Role: PI.

“Rapid ischemic tolerance: Synaptic re-organization and reduced excitotoxicity” 

NIH/ NINDS R01 NS059588 (Meller)                                                                                 

Period: 9/30/2008- 8/31/2013                                                                                     $1,093,750

This grant investigates synaptic reorganization following preconditioning ischemia, and the role of the ubiquitin proteasome system in regulating a neuroprotective morphology.  Role: PI

**“Reprogramming Fibroblasts”

Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute (ACTSI) Pilot award

Period: Jan- May 2011                                                                                               $50,000

This grant investigates a novel method to induce reprogramming in fibroblast cultures. Role: PI.

**“Reprogramming Fibroblasts”

Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute (ACTSI) Pilot award- continuation

Period: Jun 2012- May 2013                                                                          $50,000

This grant investigates a novel method to induce reprogramming in fibroblast cultures. Role: PI.

**“An investigation into the regulation of stroke outcome by Bmal1”

G12 Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research Center (MBRC) grant

Period: Jan 2012-Jan 2013                                                                                         $100,000

Here, we take a multidisciplinary approach to investigate interactions between ischemic and sleep regulatory pathways at molecular and physiological levels and subsequent effects on stroke outcome. Role PI.

**“Blood Transcriptome Analysis of Concussion Patients as a Diagnostic Tool”

RCENTER Career Development Project Award

Period: Jan 2013- June 2015                                                                                      $150,000

This project utilizes deep sequencing technology (RNA-seq) to investigate the blood transcriptome in sets of patients who have suffered mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI: concussion) with evidence of post concussive syndrome. Role PI

**“Improving neurological injury diagnosis and prognosis: The next generation of precision medicine “

MSM-Shark Tank Competition

Period Apr2016-Mar 2017                                                                                         $100, 000

This project will investigate the utility of Nanopore sequencers to assess stroke status of patients, by performing transcriptome profiling of blood. Role PI

**“Sub-Project: :       Identification of blood transcriptome profiles to predict epileptogenesis”

NIH/NINDS U54: NS083932-01 (MacLeish)          

Period 1/1/2016-7/31/2018                                                                                         $100,000 yr

This Sub-Project investigates the use of RNAseq of blood transcriptomes to identify profiles predictive of epilepsy and brain injury in a rodent model of temporal lobe epilepsy.  Role: Sub Project PI

**Investigation of the protective effects of Mallinckrodt TLR9 antagonist compound (s) in a model of reperfusion injury following stroke.

Mallinckrodt grant: PI Meller/ Simon                       

Private                                                                                                                         $57,739 (total)

Study to investigate novel neuroprotective compound in reperfusion injury model. 

Role:  Principle Investigator

**Blood transcriptome profiling following seizures

NIH/NINDS R21 NS116726-01 (PI: Meller)                                                             

Performance Period: 04/01/2020-03/31/2022                                                            $387,199

The goal is to propose a novel approach to retrospectively distinguish seizures from PNES after the event has occurred. Role PI

**Blood transcriptomics as CT adjuvant to exclude hemorrhage in acute stroke

NIH/NINDS: R01 NS112422-01A1 (PI: Meller)

Period: 07/01/2020-06/30/2025                                                                                  $2,807,780

Goal: The goal of this project is to test blood transcriptome analysis as a point of care diagnostic to identify tPA eligible patients.  We also investigate the impact of race and sex of test accuracy and test a rapid sequencing approach (nanopores). ## In no cost extension until 2026.

**Excellence in research: Spatial and temporal mechanisms of gene expression regulation

National Science Foundation: IOS-1956233 (PI: Meller)

Period: 04/01/2020-03/31/2023                                                                                  $500,000

This project will investigate the role of TRIM2 in regulating gene expression in neuronal development.

**Assessing the accuracy of a blood RNA biomarker for diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

NIH/NIA & NIMHD 3U54MD007602-33S1 (PI:Meller)

Period 06/01/2020 – 05/31/2021                                                                                $375,213

This project investigates Blood transcriptome changes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

**Translating genomic profiling to bedside precision medicine

NIH/ NHGRI: 1RM1HG012334-01 (PI Meller)

Period 09/30/2022- 08/31/2025                                                                                  $ 2,500,000

This CEGS grant, was awarded under a diversity program, with the goal of enhancing genomic workforce diversity through education and research programs at MSM.

Currently Pending Review

Assessing the accuracy of blood RNA signatures to predict c.s.f. based AD biomarker levels

R01AG101678 MELLER, ROBERT (PD/PI)

04/01/2026-11/30/2030

Blood transcriptomics as CT adjuvant to exclude hemorrhage in acute stroke

R01NS112422 MELLER, ROBERT (PD/PI)

07/01/2026-06/30/2031

Grant Awards as Co-Investigator (** denotes awarded at MSM)

“Cell Excitation in Ischemia”, 

NIH/NINDS R01 NS024728 (Simon)

Period: April 2006-Jul 2010                                                                                       $1,250,000

This grant investigates the effect of Bcl-w protein in mediating neuroprotection induced in rapid ischemic tolerance.  Role: Co-PI. 

“Molecular Mechanisms of Seizure-Induced Brain Injury”

NIH/NINDS R01 NS039016(Simon)

Period: Jun 2005-2010                                                                                                $1,250,000

This grant investigates death receptor signaling to the ER following seizures and the role of the intrinsic and extrinsic cell death pathway.  Role: Co-PI. 

“Molecular Determinants of Epileptic Brain Injury”

NIH/NINDS R01 NS047622 (Simon)

Period: Jun 2005-2009                                                                                                $1,000,000

This grant investigates the role of Bcl-w and Bim in regulating seizure induced brain injury and epileptogenesis.  Role: Co-PI. 

**Multi-disciplinary Collaborative Pilot Project: Vasculopathic gene expression in sickle cell anemia

P50 HL117929 (Taylor)                                

NIH/NHLBI                                       

Period: 6/01/2014 - 4/03/2016                                                                                    $178,393

Morehouse Cardiovascular Research Center of Excellence

The aim of this study is to define the immune cell transcriptome by next generation RNA sequencing in blood from individuals with SCA, in comparison to healthy African American controls, with a specific focus on identifying genes that may mediate vascular remodeling.

Role: Co-Investigator

**“MSM Specialized Neuroscience Research Program (SNRP)”

U54: NS083932-01 (MacLeish)         8/15/2013-7/31/2018                          5% / 0.6 Cal Mon

NIH/NINDS                                                                                                                $1,000,000 (total)

A Specialized Center (Cooperative Agreement),  Specialized Neuroscience Research Program (SNRP) to augment and strengthen Neuroscience Institute (NI) research programs at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and to increase the academic preparedness of students from diverse backgrounds for advanced Neuroscience research careers.

Role: Core Director

**Morehouse School of Med/Tuskegee U/UAB Comp Cancer Center Partnership

U54 CA118638 (Lillard, Contact MPI)         9/01/16—09/30/21                  1.2 Cal Months (10%)

NIH/ NCI                                                                                                                    $1,009,450

This proposal aims to advance the careers of minority faculty conducting cancer research and support the Cancer Center Partnership collaboration between UAB, Tuskegee, and MSM. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to foster collaborations among minority-serving institutions and NCI-designated cancer centers to develop stronger national cancer programs aimed at understanding reasons behind the significant cancer disparities and related impacts on racial and ethnic minority and socio-economically disadvantaged populations. Total Award:  $7,075,000.

Role Bioinformatician (MSM)

**1OT2OD025285-01 (PI Zuchner               08/2017-05/2018                    1.2 cal months (10%)

NIH                                                                                                                             $4,456,583

South Eastern Enrollment center (All of Us program). 

Role Biobank lead. Lead with responsibility for oversight and training of personnel involved with biobank collection from participants enrolled in the All of Us program at MSM. 

**Precision based medicine for stroke in African American Women

U54- MD007602-31A1 RCMI           (PI: Bond)       09/2018-08/2024        0.6 Cal months (10%)

NIH/NIMHD                                                                                                              $600,000 (direct)

Co-Investigator of a subproject. Investigating blood transcriptome response to predict efficacy of tPA therapy in African American Women. 

Role Co-investigator

The Morehouse School of Medicine's Institute of Genomic Medicine Center for Genomic Diversity

1U54HG013595-01                            (PI Davis)       06/2024-06/2029                    12 %

NIH/ NIGMS                                                                         

Sub project lead investigating impact of personalized reference genomes and pangenomes on transcriptome analysis.

Role Sub Project Lead

Journal Articles

(* denotes published during MSM position)

1. *Verma R, Pearson A, Reyes-Benitez Z, Blankson H, Haward T, Rangaraju S, Hall A, Williams A, Stanley N, Boynton S, Stern F, Toosi T, Bates T, Garcia J, Liu N, Zakaria R, Ellis C, Centeno G, Hurn G, Guven E, Bhatt N, Simon R, Jordan I, Frankel M, Meller R. Blood RNA Signatures Enable Accurate Discrimination of Stroke Subtype and Onset Time at Hospital Admission. Res Sq. 2026 Mar 8;. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9022364/v1. PubMed PMID: 41836513; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12980371. (Under review in Stroke)

2. *Verma R, Sharma S, Blankson HN, Guven E, Pearson A, Searles CD, Baltrus P, Lewis TT, Pemu P, Jones D, Quyyumi AA, Taylor H, Jordan IK, Meller R. RNAScope-Ancestry: A Cross-Modality Framework for Inferring Genetic Ancestry from RNA-Seq with Application to MECA. Res Sq. 2026 Mar 8;. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7801062/v1. PubMed PMID: 41836511; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12980372. (Under Review in Genome Research)

3. *Blankson HN, Delmer C, Verma R, Guven E, Rooney K, Pearson A, Baltrus P, Quyumi AA, Pemu P, Jordan IK, Herman T, Meller R, Searles CD. Sex differences in molecular pathways underlying cardiovascular health in Black Americans. Res Sq. 2026 Jan 19;. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8391154/v1. PubMed PMID: 41658954; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12879709. (Under review in Scientific Reports).

4. *BioDIGS Consortium, Alberts T, Albritton CF, Alcazar R, Aljabri Z, Alvarez M, Aradhey A, Ayalew M, Azizian N, Balayah Y, Ball DD, Barragan E, Beshoar C, Best L, Biggane E, Biggane J, Blick J, Blosser M, Brown AK, Campbell MC, Canizares Z, Chanhuhwa FN, Chen Y, Chin DR, Chowdhury K, Collins T, Compton B, Da Silva J, Davis NR, DeCaro N, Delgadillo F, Deng Y, Duncan J, Egwu AC, Ekalle GD, Elnawam N, Enke R, Ewhe N, Ferrel MA, Fierst J, Freymiller G, Fuller K, Fulton-Wright L, Gaysinskaya V, Gill T, Gillespie E, Gonzalez Moreno P, Goodwin S, Graham N, Graham ME, Graves JL Jr, Grob E, Gutierrez R, Hager A, Hakim ST, Harris A, Hoffman AM, Hoffmann T, Horton AM, Hughes A, Humphries EM, Ikechi-Konkwo JS, Ishtiaq A, Jackson R, James JR, James K, Jamison SA, Jimenez A, Johnson R, Kauffman A, Kaur H, Kc K, Keeton A, Kelly OE, Kerr J, Kucher N, Kuehu DL, Larson WA, Lee J, Lee A, Leek JT, Lemaic D, Liburd LE 2nd, Lopez AF, Mahmanzar M, Mamae K, Manjikian R, Marone M, Marquez K, Martinson A, Mavruk Eskipehlivan S, Medrano A, Melendrez-Vallard M, Meller R, Méndez LB, Mendez Gonzalez MP, Mesquita N, Miller CM, Mohd-Ibrahim I, Mortensen P, Mosher S, Muja A, Nasrin N, Nasu M, Nguyen MH, Nguyen BT, Nishiguchi M, O'Connor LM, Okie D, Olowookorun T, Ostrovsky A, Ozuna K, Pandey A, Patel SB, Paul G, Pawar S, Pearson A, Petrik D, Platero J, Pontino C, Pratap AP, Pratap S, Qin Y, Rai SK, Ray N, Repesh E, Rhinehardt K, Roche B, Rodriguez A, Roy S, Roy S, Sawa A, Schatz MC, Sen SK, Serikawa R, Smith T, Smith L, Sniezek J, Stewart RD, Suarez-Martinez EB, Taganna J, Tan FJ, Tsotakos N, Udolisa N, Ulbricht K, Veo T, Vessio J, Walker L, Wang O, Wang Q, Wappel R, Wesby K, Whitford M, Wild N, Xie X, Yang H, York S, Zirkle L. Unearthing soil biodiversity through collaborative genomic research and education. Nat Genet. 2026 Jan;58(1):3-8. doi: 10.1038/s41588-025-02442-5. PubMed PMID: 41461908; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12799090.

5. *Verma R, Savaria-Butler A, Enguita FJ, Meller R. Commentary: a review of technical considerations for planning an RNA-Sequencing experiment. BMC Genomics. 2025 Oct 14;26(1):918. doi: 10.1186/s12864-025-12094-8. Review. PubMed PMID: 41087878; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12522984.

6. *Haltom JA, Trovao NS, Guarnieri JW, Pan V, Singh U, Tsoy S, O'Leary CA, Bram Y, Widjaja GA, Cen Z, Meller R, Baylin SB, Moss WN, Nikolau BJ, Enguita FJ, Wallace DC, Beheshti A, Schwartz RE, Wurtele ES. Importance of De Novo Gene Evolution to Emerging Viral Threats: The ORF10 Strain-Restricted Orphan Gene of SARS-CoV-2 Promotes Pathogenesis. Mol Biol Evol. 2025 Oct 1;42(10). doi: 10.1093/molbev/msaf211. PubMed PMID: 41092398; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12527356.

7. *Verma R, Bullinger KL, Pearson A, Dhakar M, Guven E, Amini E, Simon RP, Meller R. Differential Transcript Expression and Alternative RNA Splicing Patterns to Differentiate Focal vs. Generalized-Onset Seizures. Mol Neurobiol. 2025 Jun 11;. doi: 10.1007/s12035-025-05110-1. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 40495047.

8. *Shivam Sharma, Shashwat Deepali Nagar, Priscilla Pemu, Stephan Zuchner, SEEC Consortium, Leonardo Mariño-Ramírez, Robert Meller, I. King Jordan^*Genetic ancestry and population structure in the All of Us Research Program cohort . Nature Communications, 2025. Accepted Mar 2025.
9. * Bullinger K, Dhakar M, Pearson A, Bumanglag A, Guven E, Verma R, Amini E, Sloviter RS, DeBruyne J, Simon RP, Meller R. Retrospective discrimination of PNES and epileptic seizure types using blood RNA signatures. J Neurol. 2025 Jan 15;272(2):128. doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12877-1. PubMed PMID: 39812831; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11735489.

10. *Topper MJ, Guarnieri JW, Haltom JA, Chadburn A, Cope H, Frere J, An J, Borczuk A, Sinha S, Kim J, Park J, Butler D, Meydan C, Foox J, Bram Y, Richard SA, Epsi NJ, Agan B, Chenoweth JG, Simons MP, Tribble D, Burgess T, Dalgard C, Heise MT, Moorman NJ, Baxter VK, Madden EA, Taft-Benz SA, Anderson EJ, Sanders WA, Dickmander RJ, Beigel K, Widjaja GA, Janssen KA, Lie T, Murdock DG, Angelin A, Soto Albrecht YE, Olali AZ, Cen Z, Dybas J, Priebe W, Emmett MR, Best SM, Kelsey Johnson M, Trovao NS, Clark KB, Zaksas V, Meller R, Grabham P, Schisler JC, Moraes-Vieira PM, Pollett S, Mason CE, Syrkin Wurtele E, Taylor D, Schwartz RE, Beheshti A, Wallace DC, Baylin SB. Lethal COVID-19 associates with RAAS-induced inflammation for multiple organ damage including mediastinal lymph nodes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Dec 3;121(49):e2401968121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2401968121. Epub 2024 Nov 27. PubMed PMID: 39602262; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11626201.

11. * Galeano D, Imrat, Haltom J, Andolino C, Yousey A, Zaksas V, Das S, Baylin SB, Wallace DC, Slack FJ, Enguita FJ, Wurtele ES, Teegarden D, Meller R, Cifuentes D, Beheshti A. sChemNET: a deep learning framework for predicting small molecules targeting microRNA function. Commun. 2024 Oct 23;15(1):9149. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49813-w. PubMed PMID: 39443444; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11500171.

12. *McDonald JT, Kim J, Farmerie L, Johnson ML, Trovao NS, Arif S, Siew K, Tsoy S, Bram Y, Park J, Overbey E, Ryon K, Haltom J, Singh U, Enguita FJ, Zaksas V, Guarnieri JW, Topper M, Wallace DC, Meydan C, Baylin S, Meller R, Muratani M, Porterfield DM, Kaufman B, Mori MA, Walsh SB, Sigaudo-Roussel D, Mebarek S, Bottini M, Marquette CA, Wurtele ES, Schwartz RE, Galeano D, Mason CE, Grabham P, Beheshti A. Space radiation damage rescued by inhibition of key spaceflight associated miRNAs. Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 11;15(1):4825. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-48920-y. PubMed PMID: 38862542; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11166944.

13. *Genomic data in the All of Us Research Program. Nature. 2024 Mar;627(8003):340-346. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06957-x. Epub 2024 Feb 19. PubMed PMID: 38374255; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10937371

14. *Guarnieri JW, Dybas JM, Fazelinia H, Kim MS, Frere J, Zhang Y, Soto Albrecht Y, Murdock DG, Angelin A, Singh LN, Weiss SL, Best SM, Lott MT, Zhang S, Cope H, Zaksas V, Saravia-Butler A, Meydan C, Foox J, Mozsary C, Bram Y, Kidane Y, Priebe W, Emmett MR, Meller R, Demharter S, Stentoft-Hansen V, Salvatore M, Galeano D, Enguita FJ, Grabham P, Trovao NS, Singh U, Haltom J, Heise MT, Moorman NJ, Baxter VK, Madden EA, Taft-Benz SA, Anderson EJ, Sanders WA, Dickmander RJ, Baylin SB, Wurtele ES, Moraes-Vieira PM, Taylor D, Mason CE, Schisler JC, Schwartz RE, Beheshti A, Wallace DC. Core mitochondrial genes are down-regulated during SARS-CoV-2 infection of rodent and human hosts. Sci Transl Med. 2023 Aug 9;15(708):eabq1533. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq1533. Epub 2023 Aug 9. PMID: 37556555

15. *Nagar SD, Pemu P, Qian J, Boerwinkle E, Cicek M, Clark CR, Cohn E, Gebo K, Loperena R, Mayo K, Mockrin S, Ohno-Machado L, Ramirez AH, Schully S, Able A, Green A, Zuchner S; SEEC Consortium; Jordan IK, Meller R. Investigation of hypertension and type 2 diabetes as risk factors for dementia in the All of Us cohort.Sci Rep. 2022 Nov 17;12(1):19797. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-23353-z. PMID: 36396674

16. *Saravia-Butler AM, Schisler JC, Taylor D, Beheshti A, Butler D, Meydan C, Foox J, Hernandez K, Mozsary C, Mason CE, Meller R. Host transcriptional responses in nasal swabs identify potential SARS-CoV-2 infection in PCR negative patients. iScience. 2022 Nov 18;25(11):105310. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105310. Epub 2022 Oct 7. PMID: 36246576

17. *Xie M, Leng T, Maysami S, Pearson A, Simon R, Xiong ZG, Meller R. Changes in NMDA Receptor Function in Rapid Ischemic Tolerance: A Potential Role for Tri-Heteromeric NMDA Receptors.Biomolecules. 2022 Sep 1;12(9):1214. doi: 10.3390/biom12091214. PMID: 36139053

18. *Genomic Data Science Community Network. Diversifying the genomic data science research community. Genome Res, . 2022 Jul 20.doi: 10.1101/gr.276496.121.

19. *Enguita FJ, Leitão AL, McDonald JT, Zaksas V, Das S, Galeano D, Taylor D, Wurtele ES, Saravia-Butler A, Baylin SB, Meller R, Porterfield DM, Wallace DC, Schisler JC, Mason CE, Beheshti A. The interplay between lncRNAs, RNA-binding proteins and viral genome during SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals strong connections with regulatory events involved in RNA metabolism and immune response. Theranostics. 2022;12(8):3946-3962. doi: 10.7150/thno.73268. eCollection 2022. PubMed PMID: 35664076; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9131284.

20. * B. E. Gee, A. Pearson, I. Buchanan-Perry, R. P. Simon, D.R. Archer and R. Meller. Whole Blood Transcriptome Analysis in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia. Front. Genet., 13 January 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2021.737741

21. *McDonald JT, Enguita FJ, Taylor D, Griffin RJ, Priebe W, Emmett MR, Sajadi MM, Harris AD, Clement J, Dybas JM, Aykin-Burns N, Guarnieri JW, Singh LN, Grabham P, Baylin SB, Yousey A, Pearson AN, Corry PM, Saravia-Butler A, Aunins TR, Sharma S, Nagpal P, Meydan C, Foox J, Mozsary C, Cerqueira B, Zaksas V, Singh U, Wurtele ES, Costes SV, Davanzo GG, Galeano D, Paccanaro A, Meinig SL, Hagan RS, Bowman NM; UNC COVID-19 Pathobiology Consortium, Wolfgang MC, Altinok S, Sapoval N, Treangen TJ, Moraes-Vieira PM, Vanderburg C, Wallace DC, Schisler JC, Mason CE, Chatterjee A, Meller R, Beheshti A. Role of miR-2392 in driving SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cell Rep. 2021 Oct 19;37(3):109839.

.

22. *Chandler PD, Clark CR, Zhou G, Noel NL, Achilike C, Mendez L, Ramirez AH, Loperena-Cortes R, Mayo K, Cohn E, Ohno-Machado L, Boerwinkle E, Cicek M, Qian J, Schully S, Ratsimbazafy F, Mockrin S, Gebo K, Dedier JJ, Murphy SN, Smoller JW, Karlson EW; All of Us Research Program Investigators. Hypertension prevalence in the All of Us Research Program among groups traditionally underrepresented in medical research Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 22;11(1):12849

23. *Overbey EG, Saravia-Butler AM, Zhang Z, Rathi KS, Fogle H, da Silveira WA, Barker RJ, Bass JJ, Beheshti A, Berrios DC, Blaber EA, Cekanaviciute E, Costa HA, Davin LB, Fisch KM, Gebre SG, Geniza M, Gilbert R, Gilroy S, Hardiman G, Herranz R, Kidane YH, Kruse CPS, Lee MD, Liefeld T, Lewis NG, McDonald JT, Meller R, Mishra T, Perera IY, Ray S, Reinsch SS, Rosenthal SB, Strong M, Szewczyk NJ, Tahimic CGT, Taylor DM, Vandenbrink JP, Villacampa A, Weging S, Wolverton C, Wyatt SE, Zea L, Costes SV, Galazka JM. NASA GeneLab RNA-seq consensus pipeline: standardized processing of short-read RNA-seq data. iScience. 2021 Mar 26;24(4):102361

24. *Paul AM, Cheng-Campbell M, Blaber EA, Anand S, Bhattacharya S, Zwart SR, Crucian BE, Smith SM, Meller R, Grabham P, Beheshti A. Beyond Low-Earth Orbit: Characterizing Immune and microRNA Differentials following Simulated Deep Spaceflight Conditions in Mice. iScience. 2020 Nov 25;23(12):101747.

25. * da Silveira WA, Fazelinia H, Rosenthal SB, Laiakis EC, Kim MS, Meydan C, Kidane Y, Rathi KS, Smith SM, Stear B, Ying Y, Zhang Y, Foox J, Zanello S, Crucian B, Wang D, Nugent A, Costa HA, Zwart SR, Schrepfer S, Elworth RAL, Sapoval N, Treangen T, MacKay M, Gokhale NS, Horner SM, Singh LN, Wallace DC, Willey JS, Schisler JC, Meller R, McDonald JT, Fisch KM, Hardiman G, Taylor D, Mason CE, Costes SV, Beheshti A.Comprehensive Multi-omics Analysis Reveals Mitochondrial Stress as a Central Biological Hub for Spaceflight Impact. Cell. 2020 Nov 25;183(5):1185-1201

26. *Flippo KH, Lin Z, Dickey AS, Zhou X, Dhanesha NA, Walters GC, Liu Y, Merrill RA, Meller R, Simon RP, Chauhan AK, Usachev YM, Strack S. Deletion of a Neuronal Drp1 Activator Protects against Cerebral Ischemia. J Neurosci. 2020 Apr 8;40(15):3119-3129. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1926-19.2020. Epub 2020 Mar 6. PubMed PMID: 32144179; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7141887.

27. *McDonald JT, Stainforth R, Miller J, Cahill T, da Silveira WA, Rathi KS, Hardiman G, Taylor D, Costes SV, Chauhan V, Meller R, Beheshti A. NASA GeneLab Platform Utilized for Biological Response to Space Radiation in Animal Models. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Feb 7;12(2). doi: 10.3390/cancers12020381. PubMed PMID: 32045996; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7072278.

28. *All of Us Research Program Investigators, Denny JC, Rutter JL, Goldstein DB, Philippakis A, Smoller JW, Jenkins G, Dishman E. (Meller) The "All of Us" Research Program. N Engl J Med. 2019 Aug 15;381(7):668-676. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsr1809937.

29. *Adaugo Q. Ohandjo, Zongzhi Liu, Eric B. Dammer, Courtney D. Dill, Tiara L.Griffen, Kaylin M. Carey, Denise E. Hinton, Robert Meller and James W. Lillard. Jr., Transcriptome Network Analysis Identifies CXCL13-CXCR5 Signaling Modules in the Prostate Tumor Immune Microenvironment. Scientific Reports. 2019 In press.  DOI : 10.1038/s41598-019-46491-3

30. *Simon R, Meller R, Yang T, Pearson A, Wilson G. Enhancing Base Excision Repair of Mitochondrial DNA to Reduce Ischemic Injury Following Reperfusion. Transl Stroke Res. 2018 Dec 8. doi: 10.1007/s12975-018-0680-5. PubMed PMID: 30535792.

31. *Hardy JJ, Mooney SR, Pearson AN, McGuire D, Correa DJ, Simon RP, Meller R. Assessing the accuracy of blood RNA profiles to identify patients with post-concussion syndrome: A pilot study in a military patient population. PloS one. 2017; 12(9):e0183113.

32. *Allison J Brager; Tao Yang, J. Christopher Ehlen, Roger P Simon, Robert Meller, Ketema N Paul, Sleep is Critical for Remote Preconditioning-Induced Neuroprotection. Sleep. 2016; 39(11):2033-2040.

33. *Meller R. Addressing Benefits, Risks and Consent in Next Generation Sequencing Studies.  2015. J Clin. Res. Bioeth. 2015.

34. *Meller R., Pearson A. N., Hardy J. J., Hall C. L., McGuire D., Frankel M. R. and Roger P. Simon Blood transcriptome changes after stroke in an African American population. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. 2016.

35. *Meller R, Pearson A, Simon RP. Dynamic changes in DNA methylation in ischemic tolerance. Front Neurol. 2015 May 15;6:102.

36. *Meller R, Simon RP. A critical review of mechanisms regulating remote preconditioning-induced brain protection. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015 May 7.

37. *Camie L Meller, Robert Meller, Roger P Simon and Jason E Podrabsky: Patterns of ubiquitination and SUMOylation associated with exposure to anoxia in embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus.  J Comp Physiol B. 2014 Feb;184(2):235-47.

38. *Veronica J. Jessick, Mian Xie, Andrea N. Pearson, Dan J. Torrey Michelle, Ashley Simon Thompson, Robert Meller.  Investigating the role of the Actin Regulating complex ARP2/3 in rapid ischemic tolerance induced neuro-protection.  Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2013 Dec 15;5(4):216-27.

39. *Robert Meller, Lorena Galvern, Jing Quan Lan, Esther Han, Jason Bauer, and Katherine T. Morris.  Programmed Cell Death in a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Yttrium-90 and Doxorubicin-Loaded Beads. J. Vasc. Int. Radiology. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2013 Oct;24(10):1537-42. 

40. *Meller, R. and R.P. Simon, Tolerance to Ischemia- An increasingly complex biology.  Translational Stroke Research 2013. 4(1): p. 40-50.

41. *McKiernan RC, Jimenez-Mateos EM, Bray I, Engel T, Brennan GP, Sano T, Michalak Z, Moran C, Delanty N, Farrell M, O'Brien D, Meller R, Simon RP, Stallings RL, Henshall DC.  Reduced Mature MicroRNA Levels in Association with Dicer Loss in Human Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Hippocampal Sclerosis. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e35921.

42. *Meller CL, Meller R, Simon RP, Culpepper KM, Podrabsky JE.  Cell cycle arrest associated with anoxia-induced quiescence, anoxic preconditioning, and embryonic diapause in embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus. J Comp Physiol B. 2012 May 9.

43. *Simon RP, Meller R, Zhou A, Henshall D Can genes modify stroke outcome and by what mechanisms?. Stroke. 2012 Jan;43(1):286-91.

44. *Thompson S, Pearson AN, Ashley MD, Jessick V, Murphy BM, Gafken P, Henshall DC, Morris KT, Simon RP, Meller R.  Identification of a novel Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) E3 ligase, tripartite motif-containing protein 2 (TRIM2), and its role in rapid ischemic tolerance-induced neuroprotection.  J Biol Chem. 2011 Jun 3;286(22):19331-9. Epub 2011 Apr 8.

45. *Thompson SJ, Ashley MD, Stöhr S, Schindler C, Li M, McCarthy-Culpepper KA, Pearson AN, Xiong ZG, Simon RP, Henshall DC, Meller R.  Suppression of TNF receptor-1 signaling in an in vitro model of epileptic tolerance.  Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2011;3(2):120-32. Epub 2011 Jun 13.

46. *Tobias Engel, Clara K. Schindler, Amaya Sanz-Rodriguez, Ronan M. Conroy, Robert Meller, Roger P.  Simon, David C. Henshall Expression of neurogenesis genes in human temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol 2011;3(1):38-47.

Other publications whilst at other institutions

47. Andrea Nicole Ordonez, Veronica Joy Jessick, Corrin Erin Clayton, Michelle Dawn Ashley, Simon John Thompson, Roger Pancoast Simon, Robert Meller.  Rapid ischemic tolerance induced by adenosine preconditioning results in Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) degradation by the proteasome. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2010 Jan 1;2(1):36-44.
48. Murphy BM, Engel T, Paucard A, Hatazaki S, Mouri G, Tanaka K, Tuffy LP, Jimenez-Mateos EM, Woods I, Dunleavy M, Bonner HP, Meller R, Simon RP, Strasser A, Prehn JH, Henshall DC.  Contrasting patterns of Bim induction and neuroprotection in Bim-deficient mice between hippocampus and neocortex after status epilepticus.  Cell Death Differ. 2009 Sep 25.
49. Loftus LT, Gala R, Yang T, Jessick VJ, Ashley MD, Ordonez A, Thompson SJ, Simon RP, Meller R.  Sumo-2/3-ylation following in vitro modeled ischemia is reduced in delayed ischemic tolerance. Brain Res. 2009 Mar 27.
50. Meller, R. The Role of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System in Ischemia and Ischemic Tolerance.  Neuroscientist. 2009 Jan 30.
51. Jimenez-Mateos EM, Hatazaki S, Johnson MB, Bellver-Estelles C, Mouri G, Bonner C, Prehn JH, Meller R, Simon RP, Henshall DC.  Hippocampal transcriptome after status epilepticus in mice rendered seizure damage-tolerant by epileptic preconditioning features suppressed calcium and neuronal excitability pathways. Neurobiol Dis. 2008 Sep 4.
52. Sato Y, Meller R, Yang T, Waro Taki W and Simon RP. Stereo-selective neuroprotection against stroke with vitamin A derivatives.  Brain Res 2008
53. Meller R, Thompson SJ, Lusardi TA, Ordonez AN, Ashley MD, Jessick V, Wang W, Torrey DJ, Henshall DC, Gafken PR, Saugstad JA, Xiong ZG, Simon RP. Ubiquitin proteasome-mediated synaptic reorganization: a novel mechanism underlying rapid ischemic tolerance. J Neurosci. 2008 Jan 2;28(1):50-9.
54. Thompson SJ, Loftus LT, Ashley MD, Meller R. Ubiquitin-proteasome system as a modulator of cell fate. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2008 Feb;8(1):90-5. 
55. Pignataro G, Meller R, Inoue K, Ordonez AN, Ashley MD, Xiong Z, Gala R, Simon RP.  In vivo and in vitro characterization of a novel neuroprotective strategy for stroke: ischemic postconditioning. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2008 Feb;28(2):440.
56. Simon R, Henshall D, Stoehr S, Meller R.  Endogenous mechanisms of neuroprotection.  Epilepsia. 2007;48 Suppl 8:72-3.
57. Hatazaki S, Bellver-Estelles C, Jimenez-Mateos EM, Meller R, Bonner C, Murphy N, Matsushima S, Taki W, Prehn JH, Simon RP, Henshall DC.  Microarray profile of seizure damage-refractory hippocampal CA3 in a mouse model of epileptic preconditioning. Neuroscience. 2007 Dec 5;150(2):467-477.
58. Murphy B, Dunleavy M, Shinoda S, Schindler C, Meller R, Bellver-Estelles C, Hatazaki S, Dicker P, Yamamoto A, Koegel I, Chu X, Wang W, Xiong Z, Prehn J, Simon R, Henshall D.  Bcl-w protects hippocampus during experimental status epilepticus.  Am J Pathol. 2007 Oct;171(4):1258-68.
59. H. Rosenzweig , M. Mimami, NS. Lessov, S. Coste, S.L. Stevens, DC. Henshall, R. Meller, RP. Simon, MP. Stenzel-Poore.  Endotoxin Preconditioning Protects Against the Cytotoxic Effects of TNFα Following Stroke: A Novel Role for TNFα in LPS-Ischemic Tolerance.  J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2007 Oct;27(10):1663-74.. 
60. Yamamoto A, Schindler CK, Murphy BM, Bellver-Estelles C, So NK, Taki W, Meller R, Simon RP, Henshall DC.  Evidence of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 signaling in human temporal lobe epilepsy.  Exp Neurol. 2006 Dec;202(2):410-20;
61. Meller R, Clayton C, Torrey D, Schindler C, Lan J, Cameron J, Chu X, Xiong Z, Simon R, Henshall D. (2006) Activation Of The Caspase 8 Pathway Mediates Seizure-Induced Cell Death In Cultured Hippocampal Neurons. Epilepsy Research 2006 Jul;70(1):3-14
62. Meller R, Cameron JA, Torrey DJ, Clayton CE, Ordonez AN, Henshall DC, Minami M, Schindler CK, Saugstad JA, Simon RP. (2006) Rapid degradation of bim by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway mediates short-term ischemic tolerance in cultures neurons. J Biol Chem, 281: 7429-36.
63. Meller R, Minami M, Cameron JA, Impey S, Chen D, Lan JQ, Henshall DC, Simon RP. (2005) CREB-mediated Bcl-2 protein expression after ischemic preconditioning. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 25:234-246
64. Meller R, Stevens SL, Minami M, Cameron JA, King S, Rosenzweig H, Doyle K, Lessov NS, Simon RP, Stenzel-Poore MP. (2005) Neuroprotection by osteopontin in stroke. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 25:217-225
65. Araki T, Shinoda S, Schindler CK, Quan-Lan J, Meller R, Taki W, Simon RP, Henshall DC. (2004) Expression, interaction, and proteolysis of death-associated protein kinase and p53 within vulnerable and resistant hippocampal subfields following seizures. Hippocampus 14:326-336
66. Shinoda S, Schindler CK, Meller R, So NK, Araki T, Yamamoto A, Lan JQ, Taki W, Simon RP, Henshall DC. (2004) Bim regulation may determine hippocampal vulnerability after injurious seizures and in temporal lobe epilepsy. J Clin Invest 113:1059-1068
67. Henshall DC, Schindler CK, So NK, Lan JQ, Meller R, Simon RP. (2004) Death-associated protein kinase expression in human temporal lobe epilepsy. Ann Neurol 55:485-494
68. Shinoda S, Skradski SL, Araki T, Schindler CK, Meller R, Lan J-Q, Taki W, Simon RP, Henshall DC. (2003) Formation of a tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 molecular scaffolding complex and activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 during seizure-induced neuronal death. Eur J Neurosci 17:2065-2076
69. Stenzel-Poore MP, Stevens SL, Xiong Z, Lessov NS, Harrington CA, Mori M, Meller R, Rosenzweig HL, Tobar E, Shaw TE, Chu X, Simon RP. (2003) Effect of ischaemic preconditioning on genomic response to cerebral ischaemia: similarity to neuroprotective strategies in hibernation and hypoxia-tolerant states. Lancet 362:1028-1037
70. Chen D, Minami M, Henshall DC, Meller R, Kisby G, Simon RP. (2003) Upregulation of mitochondrial base-excision repair capability within rat brain after brief ischemia. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 23:88-98.
71. Meller R, Schindler CK, Chu XP, Xiong ZG, Cameron JA, Simon RP, Henshall DC. (2003) Seizure-like activity leads to the release of BAD from 14-3-3 protein and cell death in hippocampal neurons in vitro. Cell Death Differ 10:539-547.
72. Meller R, Skradski SL, Simon RP, Henshall DC. (2002) Expression, proteolysis and activation of caspases 6 and 7 during rat C6 glioma cell apoptosis. Neurosci Lett 324:33-36.
73. Meller R, Harrison PJ, Sharp T. (2002) Studies on the role of calcium in the 5-HT-stimulated release of glutamate from C6 glioma cells. Eur J Pharmacol 445:13-19
74. Henshall DC, Skradski SL, Meller R, Araki T, Minami M, Schindler CK, Lan JQ, Bonislawski DP, Simon RP. (2002) Expression and differential processing of caspases 6 and 7 in relation to specific epileptiform EEG patterns following limbic seizures. Neurobiol Dis 10:71-87.
75. Meller R, Harrison PJ, Elliott JM, Sharp T. (2002) In vitro evidence that 5-hydroxytryptamine increases efflux of glial glutamate via 5-HT(2A) receptor activation. J Neurosci Res 67:399-405
76. Meller R, Babity JM, Grahame-Smith DG. (2002) 5-HT2A receptor activation leads to increased BDNF mRNA expression in C6 glioma cells. Neuromolecular Med 1:197-205
77. Henshall DC, Bonislawski DP, Skradski SL, Meller R, Lan J-Q, Simon RP. (2001) Cleavage of Bid may amplify caspase-8-induced neuronal death following focally evoked limbic seizures. Neurobiol Dis 8:568-580
78. Henshall DC, Bonislawski DP, Skradski SL, Araki T, Lan J-Q, Schindler CK, Meller R, Simon RP. (2001) Formation of the Apaf-1/cytochrome c complex precedes activation of caspase-9 during seizure-induced neuronal death. Cell Death Differ 8:1169-1181
79. Le Corre SM, Burnet PW, Meller R, Sharp T, Harrison PJ. (1997) Critical issues in the antisense inhibition of brain gene expression in vivo: experiences targeting the 5-HT1A receptor. Neurochem Int 31:349-362.

Books and Chapters

1. *Robert Meller Synaptic Signaling in Ischemic tolerance. In Innate Tolerance in the CNS. Eds Gidday, Perez-Pinzon and Zhang. Springer 2012
2. Lisa Lukaesko and Robert Meller. Regulation of gene expression by the ubiquitin-proteasome system and implications for neurological disease. Protein reviews: Post-translational Modifications in Health and Disease.  Accepted Jan 2009. Ed. C. J. Vidal.
3. Robert Meller and Roger P Simon. Stroke- A Synaptic Perspective.  In Structural and Functional Organization of the Synapse. Eds. J Hell and M. Elhers Springer 2008. 

Patent applications

1. Provisional patent application of Robert Meller for “US 63/823072 RNA-BASED METHOD FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT”. Filed 10/06/2025.
2. Provisional patent application of Robert Meller for “US 19/015,231 RNA-BASED METHOD FOR STROKE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT”. Filed 09-Jan-2025
3. Provisional patent application of Robert Meller for “US 18/539,603 RNA-BASED METHOD FOR SEIZURE ASSESSMENT”. Filed Dec 142023
4. U.S. Patent Application US17/305,480 of Robert Meller and Roger Simon for METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DIAGNOSING AND TREATING NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE AND SEIZURES. Filed 21/07/08 Published as US20230010690A1.
5. Provisional patent application No. of Robert Meller, Roger P. Simon and David C. Henshall for EPIGENETIC REPROGRAMMING TO FORM STEM CELLS.  Filed Apr 2010.
6. U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/178,491 of Robert Meller for “INTERACTION OF BIM WITH TRIM2, AN E3 UBIQUITIN LIGASE”.  Filed July 23 2008.  CIP filed 1-29-2010
7. Provisional patent application No. 60/ 667,218 of Robert Meller, Roger P. Simon and David C. Henshall for “THERAPY TO REDUCE BRAIN DAMAGE”.  Filed March 30 2005.

Invited Presentations (2026-2010)

1. Blood Genomics of Stroke: Past, Present and the Future. Meharry TN May 2026
2. Precision medicine-based diagnostics for stroke. CZI Accelerate Precision Health 2025 Grantee Meeting, GA, Aug 2025.
3. Translating genomics approaches to point-of-care diagnostics: An RNA-Seq experience. Meharry TN April 2025.
4. Translating genomics approaches to point-of-care diagnostics: An RNA-Seq experience.  Notre Dame of Maryland University, MD, Mar 2025
5. Translating genomics approaches to point-of-care diagnostics: An RNA-Seq experience. University of New Hampshire, NH, Feb 2025.
6. Retrospective Discrimination of PNES and Epileptic Seizure Types Using Blood RNA Signatures. 2^nd Annual VA/MSM Research symposium. Atlanta, GA. Aug 2024
7. Precision medicine for point of care neuro-diagnostics. CZI Accelerate Precision Health 2024 Grantee Meeting, CA, Feb 2024
8. Detection of seizures using blood transcriptomics, Emory Grand Rounds, Jun 2023.
9. IDEaS Seminar Series: Integrative Genomics for Health Equity, Atlanta, March 20, 2023
10. MSM Board of Trustees presentation Feb 2023
11. Blood transcriptome responses to stroke, Neurological Disorder Research group, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Nov 28^th 2022.
12. The All of Us Researcher Workbench. Rooted in Resilience Atlanta: Friday April 2022.
13. Investigation of hypertension and type 2 diabetes as risk factors for dementia in the All of Us cohort.  AoU  Face 2 Face Scientific Lightening Talks, Feb 4^th 2022
14. Transcriptome responses to COVID19. 1^st anniversary COV-IRT symposium March 31^st 2021. 
15. Sequencing SARS-CoV2.  RCMI Technology Seminar. MSM, Thursday, April 22, 2021.
16. Gene Hub Analysis to Identify Host Response, NASA@20 Nov2020 //www.nas.nasa.gov/SC20/demos/demo32.html
17. RNA-seq pipelines panel 1^st COVIRT Covid 19 Symposia Mar 2020
18. Blood Transcriptome Profiling As A Point-Of-Care Diagnostic. Precision Medicine World Congress, Jan 2020 Santa Clara CA.
19. eQTL identification of gamma globin gene regulators in SCD. RCMI conference Washington DC. Dec 2019
20. Next Generation Diagnosis of Neurological Disease, Emory Stroke Grand Rounds Oct 2019
21. Prediction of diagnosis in Alzheimer’s disease using whole blood RNA-Seq. The 3rd International Symposium on Frontiers in Molecular Science - RNA Regulatory Networks, July 2019, Lisbon.
22. Big DATA research opportunities at MSM, MSM Cardiology Fellowship Core Lecture Aug 2018.
23. Opportunities, Challenges and Bioethical Considerations for Big Data Health Research, MSM/ UAB/TU big data meeting Atlanta GA, Feb 2018
24. Bringing Advanced Medical Care to the Community: Development of a Blood Test for Brain Injuries Atlanta CTSI community Engagement Research Program, Atlanta, GA, April 2017. 
25. Enhancing disease diagnosis and prognosis by blood transcriptomics Grand Rounds, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA, Feb 2017
26. Precision Medicine Approaches to Enhance the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Neurological Injury”, MIND Research Institute University of New Mexico, NM. Aug 2016. 
27. “Ischemic Preconditioning as a clinical entity” University of North Texas Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX, Mar 2016. 
28. Precision Medicine Approaches to Enhance the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Neurological Injury”, Frontiers in Neuroscience Series, Emory University, GA. Jan 2016. 
29. “Ischemic Preconditioning for Neuroprotection” International Hypoxia Meeting, Lake Louise Canada March 2015.
30. “Blood transcriptome changes after stroke: A next-generation sequencing study in an African American population”.  Biomarkers for brain Disorders, Wellcome Trust Conferences, UK Feb 2015
31. “Transcriptome profiling in blood as a stroke diagnostic/ prognostic marker”, UC Davies, CA Dec 16th 2014.
32. “Translating preconditioning as a clinical entity”, CVNR VA Medical Center, Emory University Dec 10th 2014.
33. “Bioinformatics Workshop”, Morehouse School of Medicine, Oct 10th 2014
34. “Tolerance to brain ischemia: a role for epigenetics” Experimental Biology 2014- Physiological Genomics Group, San Diego, CA Apr 2014. 
35. “Ischemic tolerance” Slovenian Neuroscience Association, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Jul 24th 2012
36. Ischemic Tolerance Meeting, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Miami, FL, Dec 2011