Photo of Robert B. Clark, M.D.

Robert B. Clark, M.D.

Professor of Immunology
Academic Office Location:
Immunology
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-1601
Phone: 860-679-2179
Fax: 860-679-8130
Email: rclark@nso2.uchc.edu
Website(s):

Cell Biology Graduate Program

Immunology Graduate Program

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
B.A.Swarthmore CollegeBiology
M.D.Stanford UniversityMedicine

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
ResidencyStrong Memorial Hospital, University of RochesterIntern and Resident in Internal Medicine

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
Osborn Biomedical Science Graduate Teaching Award Recipient Graduate Student Organization
Medical Research Foundation Award Donaghue Foundation
Searle Scholars Award (1983-1986)Searle Scholars Program
Research and Career Development Award National Institute of Health
Investigator Award (Declined) Arthritis Foundation
Alumni Scholar Award Stanford Medical School
MemberSigma Xi
MemberPhi Beta Kappa society
Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
Cellular ImmunologyEditorial BoardEditorial BoardExternalInternational2015
UCHC MD/PH.D Applicant InterviewerAdvisory CommitteeUCHC MD/PH.D Applicant InterviewerUConn HealthLocal20152023
National Multiple Sclerosis Society Advisory Committee for Biomedical Research Grant, Review Panel BAdvisory CommitteeAppointed MemberExternalNational20122018
UCHC Radiation Safety CommitteeAdvisory CommitteeCommittee MemberUConn HealthLocal2012
Journal of Clinical and Developmental ImmunologyEditorial BoardEditorial BoardExternalNational2009
American College of Rheumatology Program Committee, Cellular Immunology SectionAdvisory CommitteeChairmanExternalNational19901990
NIH Ad Hoc Study Section of AIDS Study SectionAd Hoc MemberExternalNational19881988
National Arthritis Foundation Study Section – Biomedical SectionStudy SectionMemberExternalNational19881990
Journal of Immunology and other JournalsProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal ReviewerExternalNational
BloodProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal Reviewer ExternalNational
Science SignalingProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal Reviewer ExternalNational
Journal of Biological ChemistryProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal ReviewerExternalNational
European Journal of ImmunologyProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal Reviewer ExternalInternational
Journal of NutritionProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal ReviewerExternalNational
PLoS OneProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal ReviewerExternalNational
Immunology LettersProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal Reviewer ExternalNational
PPAR ResearchProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal ReviewerExternalNational
Cellular ImmunologyProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal Reviewer ExternalNational
Life SciencesProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Journal ReviewerExternalNational
National MS Society – Pilot Project GrantsAdvisory CommitteeAd Hoc Grant Reviewer ExternalNational
Hertha Firnberg-Program Grant for the Austrian Science FundAdvisory CommitteeAd Hoc Grant Reviewer ExternalInternational

Dr. Clark’s laboratory is interested in the biology of both the innate immune system and T cells as they relate to autoimmune diseases. The immune response in autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, as well as animal models for these diseases are studied. The role of innate immune responses, including TLR signaling, in the initiation and propagation of autoimmunity is actively being investigated. These studies also include identifying the role of the microbiome and microbiome products in autoimmune diseases. Similarly, the role of abnormal regulation of T cells in the initiation of autoimmunity is being studied through models such as the Cbl-b-deficient mouse. The understanding of abnormalities in the innate and adaptive immune system, and the role of the microbiome, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is the overall goal of this laboratory.

Accepting Lab Rotation Students: Spring 2023


Lab Rotation Projects



  1. TLR signaling and TLR tolerance in autoimmune diseases.                                      

  2. Autoimmunity and the microbiome.     

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

  • Role of Ia antigens in the regulation of T cell activation by aldehyde bearing macrophages
    Clark RB, Rosenthal AS, and Shevach, EM Heterogeneity of Mononuclear Phagocytes 1981 Jan;195-200
  • The combined use of monoclonal antibodies and cloned T cell lines as probes of macrophage Ia antigen function
    Shevach EM, Clark RB, Malek TR, and Burger RB Leukemia Markers 1981 Jan;323-334
  • The role of Ia antigens in T-cell activation
    Shevach EM and Clark RB Fundamental Mechanisms in Human Cancer Immunology 1981 Jan;89-98

Abstracts

  • Forskolin induces an anergic-like state and a decrease in the expression of lck in a Th1 clone
    Cochrane, R., Clark, R. B., Huang, C-K and Cone, R. E. FASEB J. Abs. #5389 1998 Jan;12

Letters

Reviews

Title or AbstractTypeSponsor/EventDate/YearLocation
Cbl-b Deficiency Renders T Cells Resistant to PD-L1/PD-1 Mediated SuppressionTalkFederation of Clinical Immunological Societies2016Boston MA
A commensal bacteria-derived lipid, significantly decreased in the serum of multiple sclerosis patients, causes attenuation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists2015New Orleans, LA
Microbiome-Associated Lipid as an Immune-regulator in Multiple Sclerosis.TalkFederation of Clinical Immunological Societies2015San Diego, CA
Cbl-b deficiency results in abnormalities in both T cell sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 function and response to the Multiple Sclerosis therapeutic agent, FTY720.TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists2014Pittsburgh, PA
Cbl-b deficiency results in abnormalities in response to the Multiple Sclerosis therapeutic agent FTY720 and in T cell sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 function.TalkFederation of Clinical Immunological Societies2014Chicago, Il
TGF-ß Renders In Vivo Regulatory T cell Function Independent of TNF-a (Presented by graduate student William Housley) TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2011San Francisco, CA
PPARgamma is required for CD4+ T cell proliferation, survival, and disease mediation in lymphopenia-associated autoimmunity PosterAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2011San Francisco, CA
The Type 2 TNF Receptor Plays a Critical Role in the Activation of Tregs In Vivo (Presented by graduate student William Housley) TalkAmerican Association of Immunogists Annual Meeting2010Baltimore, MD
The Nuclear Hormone Receptor PPARgamma Regulates T cell Activation and Survival in Lymphopenic Autoimmune Models (Presented by graduate student William Housley) TalkAmerican Association of Immunogists Annual Meeting2010Baltimore, MD
Resistance of Cbl-b-/- Teff to Tregs is InfectiousPosterAmerican Association of Immunogists Annual Meeting2010Baltimore, MD
TGF-ß Renders In Vivo Regulatory T cell Function Independent of TNF-aPosterNew England Immunology Conference2010Woods Hole, MA
The Role of Unique Bacterial Lipids in AutoimmunityTalkNew England Immunology Conference2010Woods Hole, MA
Cbl-b-/- T Cells are Resistant to Treg-expressed TGF-ß: A Unifying Mechanism for Resistance to Regulation and Autoimmunity (Presented by M.D.-Ph.D. student Catherine O’Conor) TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2009Seattle, WA
Cbl-b-/- T cells are resistant to Treg-expressed TGF-beta: a unifying mechanism for defective suppression and Th17 differentiationPosterKeystone Meeting2009Vancouver, Canada
PPARgamma drives conversion of inducible Tregs by stimulating dendritic cell production of retinoic acid PosterAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2009Seattle, WA
PPARgamma alters the iTreg/Th17 balance by regulating dendritic cell production of retinoic acid PosterKeystone Meeting2009Vancouver, Canada
PPARgamma alters the iTreg/Th17 balance by regulating dendritic cell production of retinoic acid PosterNew England Immunology Conference2009Woods Hole, MA
Unique Lipids from Commensal Bacteria Promote AutoimmunityPosterKeystone Meeting2008Keystone, CO
New Triggers for Autoimmunity: Novel Lipids from Commensal Bacteria Promote Autoimmune Disease (Presented by graduate student William Housley) TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2008San Diego, CA
How PPAR? Mediates Immunoregulation: An Integral Role for PPAR? in Regulatory T Cells (Presented by graduate student Elizabeth Wohlfert) TalkKeystone Meeting2007Vancouver, Canada
How PPAR? Mediates Immunoregulation: An Integral Role for PPAR? in Regulatory T Cells (Presented by graduate student Elizabeth Wohlfert) TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2007Miami, FL
Regulatory T Cells Represent a Novel Target for the Immuno-regulatory Effects of PPAR-? Ligands (Presented by graduate student Elizabeth Wohlfert) TalkKeystone Meeting2006Breckenridge, CO
A Novel Approach for Modulating CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T cell Generation and Function Through the Nuclear Hormone PPAR? (Presented by graduate student Elizabeth Wohlfert) TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2006Boston, MA
In Vivo Resistance to Tregs and TGF-ß in Autoimmune-Prone Cbl-b-/- Mice (Presented by graduate student Elizabeth Wohlfert) TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2005San Diego, CA
A Novel Approach for Modulating CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cell Generation and Function Through the Nuclear Hormone PPAR? (Presented by graduate student Elizabeth Wohlfert) TalkAmerican Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting2004Washington, D.C.
Pathogenic Mechanisms in Autoimmune DiseasesTalkNational Meeting of SSCI, SAFCR, SSPR, SSID1989New Orleans, LA