Rob Fowkes, B.Sc. (Hons.), FHEA

Rob Fowkes

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Chair of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

Phone:
517-355-6570

Email:

Education/Degree Information

2005-2007 PG. Cert., Kings College London (Academic Practice)

1994-1998 Ph.D., University of Bristol (Neuroendocrinology)

1991-1994 B.Sc. (Hons.), Oxford Brookes University (Human Biology

Title

Professor of Comparative Endocrinology

Chairperson of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

Principal Investigator - Endocrine Signaling Group

Research

Rob completed his Ph.D. studies in the McArdle Lab at the University of Bristol, investigating the interplay between C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in pituitary gonadotropes. He then spent a year working on ovarian prostaglandins in the Michael Lab (Royal Free Hospital), followed by a post-doc in the Burrin Lab at Barts & The Royal London Hospital, working on Steroidogenic Factor-1 (SF-1) regulation of the human glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit gene in the pituitary. Rob then moved to UCSF as a visiting research fellow in the Ingraham Lab, working on the role of SF-1 in adrenal and hypothalamic function. He was appointed faculty at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), London, in 2004, where he set up the Endocrine Signaling Group (ESG) to work on natriuretic peptides in the pituitary. Rob remained at the RVC for 17 years, becoming the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Studies in 2014, before being appointed as Professor and Chairperson of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at MSU.

The ESG continue to work on several projects that focus on endocrine control of reproduction and growth. They have developed a mouse model of pituitary CNP deficiency, that results in growth impairment and loss of Sertoli cells in males, and apparent polycystic ovaries in females. The group also investigate endocrine disease in companion animals, especially pituitary-related disorders such as feline acromegaly (hypersomatotropism).

Research

Primary - peptide hormone signaling in astrocytes and anterior pituitary cells, with specific focus on membrane-to-nucleus signaling of natriuretic peptides.

Secondary - endocrine disorders, including human, canine and feline pituitary adenomas; natriuretic peptides in comparative pathology/hepatic encephalopathy; non-invasive assessment of glucocorticoids as indicators of HPA activity in companion & production animals.

Publications (see PubMed)

RDSTP

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