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Research Overview

Dr. Orkin no longer conducts research but instead primarily advises trainees and junior faculty on grant opportunities and the grant writing process.

 

Research Background

Trained as an extracellular matrix developmental biologist, Roslyn W. Orkin, Ph.D. transitioned to academic administration in 1999 when she became Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs at Harvard Medical School. She joined Boston Children's Hospital in 2005 and became Associate Chief for Faculty Development in the Division of Hematology/Oncology in 2009. She works primarily one-on-one with trainees and junior faculty regarding grant funding opportunities and preparing grant applications (both national and private). Dr. Orkin also prepares and submits honorific award and professional society nominations for faculty. In addition, Dr. Orkin participates in preparation of programmatic award/funding opportunities and programmatic evaluation for the Division of Hematology/Oncology.

Dr. Orkin received a PhD from the Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard University. After postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health and Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Orkin joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School, with a research lab at Massachusetts General Hospital and teaching at Harvard Medical School. She left Massachusetts General Hospital in 1999, transitioning first to Harvard Medical School and then to Boston Children's Hospital in 2005. Dr. Orkin is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. In addition, Dr. Orkin is Associate Chief for Faculty Development, and Associate Scientific Researcher in Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital.

Selected Publications

  1. Orkin RW, Gehron P, McGoodwin EB, Martin GR, Valentine T, and Swarm.R. A murine tumor producing matrix of basement membrane. The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 1977; 145: 204-220.
    Orkin RW and Toole BP. Isolation and characterization of hyaluronidase from cultures of chick embryo skin- and muscle-derived fibroblasts. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1980; 255: 1036-1042.
  2. Heathcote JG and Orkin RW. Biosynthesis of sulphated macromolecules by rabbit lens epithelium. I. Identification of the major macromolecules synthesized by lens epithelial cells in vitro. The Journal of Cell Biology. 1984; 99: 852-860.
  3. Bernanke DH and Orkin RW. Hyaluronidase activity in embryonic chick heart muscle and cushion tissues and cells. Developmental Biology. 1984; 106: 351-359.
  4. McGuire PG and Orkin RW. Isolation of rat aortic endothelial cells by primary explant techniques and their phenotypic modulation by defined substrata. Laboratory Investigation. 1987; 57: 94-105.
  5. Benbrahim A, L'Italien GJ, Milinazzo B, Warnock DF, Dhara S, Gertler JP, Orkin RW, and Abbott WM. A compliant tubular device to study the influence of wall motion and shear stress on cells of the vascular wall. The Journal of Vascular Surgery. 1994; 20: 184-194.
  6. Morgan BM, Orkin RW, Noramly S, and Perez A. Stage specific effects of sonic hedgehog expression in the epidermis. Developmental Biology. 1998; 201:1-12.
  • Dai G, Tsukurov OI, Orkin RW, Kamm RD, and Gertler JP. An in vitro cell culture system to study the influence of external pneumatic compression on endothelial function. The Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2000; 32:977-987.

Publications