Robert G. Hamilton, PhD
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
Languages
- English
Gender
MaleAbout Robert G. Hamilton
Professional Titles
- Director, Dermatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (DACI) Reference Laboratory
- Senior Laboratory Investigator
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Medicine
Background
Robert G. Hamilton, Ph.D., D.ABMLI is currently Professor of Medicine and Pathology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He joined the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of the Department of Medicine in 1981 and is the Director of the Dermatology-Allergy Clinical Immunology (DACI) Reference Laboratory. He is a fellow of the American Academy and College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. He has served as co-editor the past 2 editions of the Manual of Molecular and Clinical Laboratory Immunology. He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, reviews and book chapters. He lectures on a variety of topics, including laboratory diagnosis and management of human allergic disease and assessment of immunogenicity and allergenicity of new drugs.
Centers and Institutes
Asthma and Allergy Center
Additional Academic Titles
Professor of Pathology
Research Interests
Diagnostic allergy testing, Humoral (antibody) immune responses in allergic and infectious disease, Immunogenicity and allergenicity of new drugs, Medical product and environmental allergen testing, Natural rubber latex allergy
Lab Website
Dermatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (DACI) Reference Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University - Lab Website
Research Summary
Current research interests focuses on:
- the role of IgE and IgG antibodies in modulating human allergic disease,
- the utility of these antibody measurements in the diagnosis and management of human allergic disease, and
- the immunogenicity of new and FDA-approved drugs, biologicals and vaccines.
In 1967, IgE antibody was identified as the ‘gate-keeper’ of allergic reactions. By binding onto mast cells and basophils, it controls the release of mediators following allergen exposures that induce allergic symptoms. Our work focuses on the accurate quantification of allergen-specific IgE, IgG and IgA antibodies in an attempt to identify indicators of risk for and protection from allergic reactions. Together with my colleague N. Franklin Adkinson Jr., M.D., we are investigating the safety of new and approved drugs for their ability to elicit IgE and IgG antibody responses as part of clinical trials leading to FDA approval. Finally, I oversee the Johns Hopkins Dermatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (DACI) Reference Laboratory which is a full service diagnostic allergy laboratory that provides IgE and IgG antibody measurements.
Honors
- Berson-Yalow Award, American Society of Nuclear Medicine, 1/1/80
- Mallinckrodt Scholarship Award, American Society of Nuclear Medicine, 1/1/79
Graduate Program Affiliations
- Biomedical Engineering Program
Additional Training
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, NY, 1974, Reactor, linear accelerator & medical physics; Dr. Rosalyn Yalow, Nobel Laureate, New York,, NY, 1981, Postdoctoral Fellowship