Biography: Dr Robert “Clark” Brown, MD PhD is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University. He serves as the Director of Clinical and Research Operations of the Sickle Cell Program at Scottish Rite campus. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina, his medical and graduate training at University of Tennessee and his pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology training at Johns Hopkins Hospital and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, respectively. Dr Brown maintains a strong national connection within the sickle cell community, including being active investigator of several multi-center NIH sponsored clinical studies and educational outreach projects.
Research Focus: Dr Brown’s research efforts are focused on areas of novel genetic and pharmacologic therapies for sickle cell disease. As post-doctorial fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research hospital, his laboratory work focused on the influence of chromatin remodeling complex on expression of the beta-globin locus. As director of sickle cell program at Medical University of South Carolina, he served as principle investigator on multi-center, phase II and phase III clinical trials. Dr Brown continues his leadership role in clinical care and research at Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Recent research efforts are focused on identifying risk factors for sickle-related CNS injury and learning disorders. Recent clinical studies involve implementation of new MR imaging diagnostics (BrainMap and NSINC studies), promising stroke prevention therapy (SWiTCH and TWiTCH studies), and novel therapies to reduce early organ damage in SCD (hydroxyurea, crizanlizumab and voxelotor clinical trials).
Personal: In his free time, Dr Brown enjoys travel and competing in chess tournaments.
