Dr. Lee Rubin

Biography

Lee Rubin is a professor in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. His laboratory focuses on a stem cell-based approach to understanding neurodegenerative diseases, specifically orphan diseases like Spinal Muscular Atrophy. His research involves using disease-relevant cells to produce large quantities of stem-like cells and has a fundamental interest in drug discovery. He has configured a high-throughput screening laboratory that combines stem cells with specific sets of drug-like small molecules and automated confocal imaging. This versatile combination has allowed his team to identify reagents that regulate cell differentiation, reprogramming, transdifferentiation, proliferation, and survival. Additionally, he has gained substantial insight into the pathways that regulate the fate and behavior of various cell types. Through his work, Rubin has established collaborations within the Harvard community, sharing a common interest in stem cells and differentiation related to disease.

Research Interests