Dr. Robert Roeder is a world-renowned biochemist and molecular biologist who has made transformative contributions to our understanding of gene regulation. He currently serves as the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Biochemical and Molecular Biology at The Rockefeller University, where he has been a faculty member since 1982. Born in Boonville, Indiana in 1942, he received his B.A. summa cum laude in chemistry from Wabash College in 1964 and his M.S. in chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1965. Following this, he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Washington in 1969, where he made his first groundbreaking discovery of the three RNA polymerases in eukaryotic organisms.
Dr. Roeder's pioneering work fundamentally reshaped our understanding of transcriptional regulation in eukaryotic cells. His landmark 1969 discovery of three distinct RNA polymerases (Pol I, II, and III) revealed that these enzymes directly copy DNA to RNA with specialized functions: Pol I for ribosomal RNA, Pol II for mRNA precursors, and Pol III for transfer and 5S RNAs. Building on this foundation, he developed powerful cell-free reconstitution systems that allowed detailed biochemical analysis of transcription mechanisms. His subsequent research identified numerous transcription factors and cofactors, including the Mediator complex that bridges gene-specific transcription factors with the general transcriptional machinery, culminating in 2006 with the reconstruction of a machinery comprising over 80 polypeptides that initiates and elongates transcription from inactive chromatin.
As a member of the National Academy of Sciences since 1988 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1995, Dr. Roeder has profoundly influenced the field of molecular biology through his research, mentorship, and leadership. His laboratory continues to investigate transcription factors and cofactors critical for various biological processes including adipogenesis, brown fat thermogenesis, B cell differentiation, and tumor suppression. The recipient of prestigious awards including the Gairdner Foundation International Award, the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, and the Kyoto Prize, Dr. Roeder remains actively engaged in research, with his current work focused on understanding differential cofactor usage by transcriptional activators in varied contexts and its implications for cell fate determination. His enduring contributions continue to illuminate the molecular mechanisms that govern gene expression and shape the future of biomedical research.
