University of Pittsburgh

Robert M. Friedlander, MD

Chairman, Professor of Neurological Surgery
Endowed Chair of Neurological Surgery
Head of Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery
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Biography
 	

	
On June 1, 2010, Robert M. Friedlander, MD, became the fourth chair in the department’s history. Prior to joining the department, Dr. Friedlander was professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and vice-chairman of neurosurgery and associate director of cerebrovascular surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
As a sign of his prominence as a clinician and scientist, Dr. Friedlander, 44, is one of a very select group of authors to have been invited by the New England Journal of Medicine to write both a basic science review (mechanisms of neuronal cell death), as well as a clinical review (management of AVMs). Clinically, Dr. Friedlander focuses on the operative management of complex cerebrovascular disorders and brain tumors.
Dr. Friedlander’s major research interests lie in the study of the mechanistic pathways of the caspase apoptosis gene family. As co-director of Brigham and Women’s Neuroscience Research Center, his work includes the evaluation of treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases (Huntington’s and ALS), stroke, brain trauma, and spinal cord injury through the modulation of the caspase-family apoptotic pathways.
Dr. Friedlander’s research has received significant media attention including major work published in Nature, Science, and Nature Medicine.
His work has also been recognized through many academic awards, including the Neurosurgery Resident Award from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Bayer Cerebrovascular Award from the Joint Section of Cerebrovascular Surgery, the International Charcot Prize for Motor Neuron Diseases, and the Award from the Academy of Neurological Surgeons. In 2006, he was elected as a member of the prestigious America Society for Clinical Investigation.
Dr. Friedlander's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.
Board Certifications
American Board of Neurological Surgery
Hospital Privileges
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
UPMC Mercy
UPMC Passavant
UPMC Presbyterian
UPMC Shadyside
Professional Organization Membership
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Congress of Neurological Surgeons. 
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Joint Section of Cerebrovascular Surgery 
Society for Neuroscience 
American Society for Clinical Investigation 
Sociedad Venezolana de Neurocirugia (Honorary Member) 
The American Academy of Neurological Surgeons 
Society for Neurological Surgeons
Media Appearances
Pitt findings on Lou Gehrig's disease may hold hope
April 26, 2013
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Melatonin Delays ALS Symptom Onset and Death in Mice
April 25, 2013
Science Daily
Cerebral Aneurysms: Analyzing the Treatment Shift
February 13, 2013
Physician's Weekly
Innovations in trauma and emergency care at UPMC
July 28, 2012 
Discovery Channel
Melatonin Delays Onset, Reduces Deaths in Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease
October 11, 2011
Science Daily
Rep. Giffords has surgery to repair skull
May 19, 2011
Washington Times (Associated Press)
Caspases—Guilty of Murder in First, and Now Second Degrees
March 12, 2011
Altzheimer Research Forum
UPMC Doctor Discusses Prognosis For Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
January 10, 2011
WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh) Action News
Blocking Apoptosis Delays ALS in Mice
October 15, 2010
Altzheimer Research Forum
The lasting impact of concussions
August 18, 2010
Yahoo! Sports
What caused the woman's headache and paralysis?
July 13, 2004
Boston Globe
Newsmaker: Dr. Robert Friedlander
June 17, 2010
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Antibiotic May Slow Gehrig's Disease
May 6, 2002
Associated Press 
An Old Antibiotic Generates New Hopes
July 11, 2000
New York Times
Minocycline slows progress of Huntington's disease in mice
July 8, 2000
British Medical Journal
Antibiotic may help fight Huntington's
June 27, 2000
USA Today
Brain drug shows promise: Slows ALS, may treat other diseases
April 14, 2000
Boston Herald
Lou Gehrig's disease slowed in mice
April 14, 2000
Boston Globe (Associated Press)
Way To Delay Huntington's Disease Found
June 19, 1999
Harvard University Gazette
Scientists slow progress of Huntington's in mice
May 20, 1999
CNN.com
Hope in Brain-Disorder Fight/Tests yield Huntington's clues
May 20, 1999
Newsday
Approach may slow Huntington’s
May 19, 1999
MSNBC.com
Scientists slow progress of Huntington's in mice
May 19, 1999
ABC News
Study Targets Huntington's Key
May 19, 1999
CBS News 
	
	





	
Research Activities
	
	

	
The Neuroapoptosis Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh is directed by Robert Friedlander, MD. The focus of the Neuroapoptosis Laboratory is the study of the basic mechanisms of apoptosis, as mediated by the caspase family proteases in neurologic diseases. Uncovering and manipulating these mechanisms will lead to the development of new treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases (Huntington’s and ALS), stroke, brain trauma, and spinal cord injury. 
Specifically, Dr. Friedlander’s laboratory has found that caspases play a functional role in neurodegeneration by regulating neuronal cell death. Furthermore, his laboratory has discovered that inhibition of caspases can delay neurological disease onset and mortality in animal models of ALS and Huntington’s Disease, and can decrease disability in animal models of ischemic stroke. Ongoing research examines other components of the caspase-regulated cell death pathway to determine their role in HD and other degenerative diseases. These components include protein-protein interactions that regulate function of the mutant huntingtin gene, as well as small regulatory RNAs that have altered expression in HD and may contribute to neuronal cell death. 
Related research identifies and evaluates new small molecule therapies for neurodegenerative disease. These therapies target the mitochondrial regulation of neuronal cell death in HD and ischemic stroke. The laboratory has identified and published a panel of drugs that will inhibit neuronal cell death in cell culture models, and these drugs are being further investigated to determine the molecular mechanism responsible for the neural protection. Ongoing research in the laboratory also includes the evaluation of these and other small molecule compounds in animal models of neurological disease. 
Dr. Friedlander’s research has received significant media attention including major work published in Nature, Science, and Nature Medicine. His work has also been recognized through many academic awards, including the Neurosurgery Resident Award from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Bayer Cerebrovascular Award from the Joint Section of Cerebrovascular Surgery, the International Charcot Prize for Motor Neuron Diseases, and the Award from the Academy of Neurological Surgeons. In 2006, he was elected as a member of the prestigious America Society for Clinical Investigation.