About

John Robertson is a Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Tech. His research areas include biomaterials, cardiovascular engineering, fluid mechanics, neuroengineering, tissue engineering, and translational cancer research. His work focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of kidney failure, aggressive malignant neoplasms such as brain, liver, urinary bladder, skin, and pancreas cancers, as well as biomedical device development. He holds a Ph.D. in Medical Pathology from the University of Pennsylvania, earned in 1977, and a V.M.D. in Veterinary Medicine from the same institution, obtained in 1976. His academic background also includes a Master of Science in Pathology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Throughout his career, Robertson has contributed significantly to the field through research, publications, and leadership roles in professional societies, including serving as Secretary-Treasurer and President-Elect of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology. His research has led to advancements in Raman spectroscopy for disease detection, renal dysfunction profiling, and mitochondrial transplantation, among other areas.

Research topics

• Biology
• Computer Science
• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Urology
• Embedded system
• Computational biology
• Cancer research
• Pathology
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Cell biology
• Engineering
• Bioinformatics
• Pharmacology
• Oncology
• Materials science
• Biomedical engineering
• Chemistry
• Composite material

Selected publications

• Prognostic Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Defined Extent of Surgical Resection in Dogs With Intracranial Meningiomas

  Veterinary and Comparative Oncology · 2026-01-15 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Surgery is a common treatment for intracranial meningiomas in dogs, although the prognostic impact of the extent of resection (EOR) has not been systematically evaluated. This retrospective study identified prognostic factors associated with clinical outcomes in dogs that underwent surgery and early post-operative magnetic resonance imaging (epoMRI) to evaluate meningioma EOR. We hypothesised that gross total tumour resection (GTR) would result in longer progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and superior post-operative seizure control and resolution of neurological dysfunction than subtotal resection (STR). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify prognostic factors, and Kaplan-Meier analyses to compare survival outcomes. Forty-one dogs were included of which 24 (59%) had GTR and 17 (41%) had STR. GTR was associated with decreased rates of tumour progression (HR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.09-0.42; p < 0.0001) and death (HR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.14-0.69; p < 0.0001), and longer PFS (618 vs. 189 days, p < 0.0001) and OS (694 vs. 349 days, p < 0.0001) compared to STR. Higher tumour grade and increasing age negatively impacted PFS and OS, respectively. Seizure freedom was attained in a larger proportion of dogs with GTR (18/20 [90%]) than STR (4/13 [31%]; p < 0.001), but rates of improvement of neurological deficits were not different between groups. GTR resulted in durable clinical improvements and survivals in the absence of adjuvant treatments. EpoMRI to assess EOR should be routinely incorporated into management of canine meningiomas to inform outcome expectations, and to identify STR cases in which adjuvant therapies should be considered.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pathogen detection using Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman scattering

  Elsevier eBooks · 2025-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• List of contributors

  Elsevier eBooks · 2025-01-01

  book-chapterOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics: a potential method for life science applications

  Elsevier eBooks · 2025-01-01

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Perspective: Raman spectroscopy for detection and management of diseases affecting the nervous system

  Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 2024-10-21

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Raman spectroscopy (RS) is used increasingly for disease detection, including diseases of the nervous system (CNS). This Perspective presents RS basics and how it has been applied to disease detection. Research that focused on using a novel Raman-based technology—Rametrix ® Molecular Urinalysis (RMU)—for systemic disease detection is presented, demonstrated by an example of how the RS/RMU technology could be used for detection and management of diseases of the CNS in companion animals.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Phase I/II Trial of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator-Targeted Oncolytic Newcastle Disease Virus for Canine Intracranial Tumors

  Cancers · 2024-01-29 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Neurotropic oncolytic viruses are appealing agents to treat brain tumors as they penetrate the blood–brain barrier and induce preferential cytolysis of neoplastic cells. The pathobiological similarities between human and canine brain tumors make immunocompetent dogs with naturally occurring tumors attractive models for the study of oncolytic virotherapies. In this dose-escalation/expansion study, an engineered Lasota NDV strain targeting the urokinase plasminogen activator system (rLAS-uPA) was administered by repetitive intravenous infusions to 20 dogs with intracranial tumors with the objectives of characterizing toxicities, immunologic responses, and neuroradiological anti-tumor effects of the virus for up to 6 months following treatment. Dose-limiting toxicities manifested as fever, hematologic, and neurological adverse events, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of rLAS-uPA was 2 × 107 pfu/mL. Mild adverse events, including transient infusion reactions, diarrhea, and fever were observed in 16/18 of dogs treated at or below MTD. No infectious virus was recoverable from body fluids. Neutralizing antibodies to rLAS-uPA were present in all dogs by 2 weeks post-treatment, and viral genetic material was detected in post-treatment tumors from six dogs. Tumor volumetric reductions occurred in 2/11 dogs receiving the MTD. Systemically administered rLAS-uPA NDV was safe and induced anti-tumor effects in canine brain tumors, although modifications to evade host anti-viral immunity are needed to optimize this novel therapy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cancer detection in dogs using rapid Raman molecular urinalysis

  Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 2024-02-07 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Introduction The presence of cancer in dogs was detected by Raman spectroscopy of urine samples and chemometric analysis of spectroscopic data. The procedure created a multimolecular spectral fingerprint with hundreds of features related directly to the chemical composition of the urine specimen. These were then used to detect the broad presence of cancer in dog urine as well as the specific presence of lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and mast cell tumor. Methods Urine samples were collected via voiding, cystocentesis, or catheterization from 89 dogs with no history or evidence of neoplastic disease, 100 dogs diagnosed with cancer, and 16 dogs diagnosed with non-neoplastic urinary tract or renal disease. Raman spectra were obtained of the unprocessed bulk liquid urine samples and were analyzed by ISREA, principal component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) were applied using the Rametrix ® Toolbox software. Results and discussion The procedure identified a spectral fingerprint for cancer in canine urine, resulting in a urine screening test with 92.7% overall accuracy for a cancer vs. cancer-free designation. The urine screen performed with 94.0% sensitivity, 90.5% specificity, 94.5% positive predictive value (PPV), 89.6% negative predictive value (NPV), 9.9 positive likelihood ratio (LR+), and 0.067 negative likelihood ratio (LR-). Raman bands responsible for discerning cancer were extracted from the analysis and biomolecular associations were obtained. The urine screen was more effective in distinguishing urothelial carcinoma from the other cancers mentioned above. Detection and classification of cancer in dogs using a simple, non-invasive, rapid urine screen (as compared to liquid biopsies using peripheral blood samples) is a critical advancement in case management and treatment, especially in breeds predisposed to specific types of cancer.

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• Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic imaging characteristics and potential molecular mechanisms of feline meningioma associated calvarial hyperostosis

  Veterinary and Comparative Oncology · 2024-02-08 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  Meningiomas are the most common feline primary brain tumours, and calvarial hyperostosis (CH) is frequently documented in association with this neoplastic entity. The clinical significance of and mechanisms driving the formation of CH in cats with meningiomas are poorly understood, although tumour invasion into the skull and tumour production of cytokines and enzymes have been implicated as causes of CH in humans. This retrospective study investigated relationships between signalment, MRI or CT imaging features, histopathologic tumour characteristics, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzyme concentrations, tumour expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and progression free survival times (PFS) following surgical treatment in 27 cats with meningiomas with (n = 15) or without (n = 12) evidence of CH. No significant differences in breed, age, sex, body weight, tumour grade, tumour volume, peritumoral edema burden, ALP isoenzyme concentrations, tumour Ki-67 labelling indices or MMP-2 or MMP-9 expression and activity, or PFS were noted between cats with or without CH. There was a trend towards higher serum (p = .06) and intratumoral (p = .07) concentrations of IL-6 in cats with CH, but these comparisons were not statistically significant. Histologic evidence of tumour invasion into bone was observed in 5/12 (42%) with CH and in no (0/6) cats without CH, although this was not statistically significant (p = .07). Tumour invasion into bone and tumour production of IL-6 may contribute to the formation of meningioma associated CH in cats, although larger studies are required to further substantiate these findings and determine their clinical relevance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Improving assessment in kidney transplantation by multitask general path model

  Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Update · 2023-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Kidney transplantation is a pivotal intervention for individuals suffering from end-stage renal diseases, offering them the potential for restored health and an enhanced quality of life. However, the successful outcome of these transplantation procedures relies significantly on the careful matching of donor kidneys with compatible recipients. Unfortunately, the current kidney-matching process overlooks viability changes during preservation. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential for forecasting heterogeneous kidney viability using historical datasets to enhance kidney-matching decision-making. We present a multitask general path model designed for continuous forecasting of kidney viability during preservation. This model quantifies likely viability trajectories of donor kidneys based on pathologist-provided biopsy scores during preservation, explicitly addressing both inter-kidney similarities and individual differences. To validate our model, we conducted viability assessments on six recently procured porcine kidneys and needle biopsy insertion experiments on phantoms, utilizing a leave-one-kidney-out cross-validation approach. Our proposed model consistently exhibited the lowest forecasting error (averaged root mean squared error, RMSEbegin=0.61 at the beginning and RMSEend<0.05 at the end of kidney preservation) when compared to widely-adopted benchmark models, including multitask learning (RMSEbegin=0.65, RMSEend=0.54), general path (RMSEbegin=0.58, RMSEend=0.49), and generalized linear models (RMSEbegin=0.59, RMSEend=0.56) in the kidney viability assessment study. Additionally, across all testing scenarios, the forecasting RMSE of our model rapidly diminished with minimal initial kidney samples during preservation. Similar patterns were observed from the needle biopsy insertion study. In both validation studies, our model outperformed benchmark models and exhibited rapid learning with limited initial samples. This approach holds promise for enhancing kidney transplantation decision-making, including improving tissue extraction accuracy through needle biopsy data analysis. By implementing this model across various kidney assessment stages in transplantation, we aim to reduce kidney discards and benefit a larger number of patients.

  PublisherDOI

• Mitochondria Transplantation Mitigates Damage in an In Vitro Model of Renal Tubular Injury and in an Ex Vivo Model of DCD Renal Transplantation

  Annals of Surgery · 2023-07-14 · 45 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  OBJECTIVES: To test whether mitochondrial transplantation (MITO) mitigates damage in 2 models of acute kidney injury (AKI). BACKGROUND: MITO is a process where exogenous isolated mitochondria are taken up by cells. As virtually any morbid clinical condition is characterized by mitochondrial distress, MITO may find a role as a treatment modality in numerous clinical scenarios including AKI. METHODS: For the in vitro experiments, human proximal tubular cells were damaged and then treated with mitochondria or placebo. For the ex vivo experiments, we developed a non-survival ex vivo porcine model mimicking the donation after cardiac death renal transplantation scenario. One kidney was treated with mitochondria, although the mate organ received placebo, before being perfused at room temperature for 24 hours. Perfusate samples were collected at different time points and analyzed with Raman spectroscopy. Biopsies taken at baseline and 24 hours were analyzed with standard pathology, immunohistochemistry, and RNA sequencing analysis. RESULTS: In vitro, cells treated with MITO showed higher proliferative capacity and adenosine 5'-triphosphate production, preservation of physiological polarization of the organelles and lower toxicity and reactive oxygen species production. Ex vivo, kidneys treated with MITO shed fewer molecular species, indicating stability. In these kidneys, pathology showed less damage whereas RNAseq analysis showed modulation of genes and pathways most consistent with mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism and downregulation of genes involved in neutrophil recruitment, including IL1A, CXCL8, and PIK3R1. CONCLUSIONS: MITO mitigates AKI both in vitro and ex vivo.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R21CA158454

  NIH · $344k · 2015

Frequent coauthors

• John H. Rossmeisl

  Virginia Tech

  148 shared

• Stephen A. Smith

  138 shared

• Terry C. Hrubec

  115 shared

• Bernard F. Feldman

  83 shared

• Mary Kay Tinker

  Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center

  57 shared

• George S. Libey

  53 shared

• Hugo P. Veit

  Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

  53 shared

• Steven D. Holladay

  University of Georgia

  42 shared

Awards & honors

• The Society of Toxicologic Pathology: Secretary-Treasurer (1…
• President-Elect, President, Past President (2001-2004)
• Assistant Editor, Journal of the Society of Pharmaceutical a…
• Member, Editorial Board, Toxicologic Pathology (1985-2000)
• Co-Chairman, 4th International Symposium, Society of Toxicol…