UMDNJ-Rutgers University
CounterACT Research
Center of Excellence

Designing therapies to counteract chemical terrorism.

 

Robert P. Casillas, Ph.D.

Vice President and Manager
Biomedical Science & Technology Product Line
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH

Email: casillasr@battelle.org
Room: 505 King Ave, JM-7-007A, Columbus, OH, 43201-2693
Phone: (614) 424-5102
Fax: (614) 458-5102

B.S., Microbiology, Georgia State University
Ph.D., Microbial Biochemistry, Georgia State University
Post-doctoral, Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Collaborator, UMDNJ-Rutgers University CounterACT Center of Excellence

Research Interests:

Biochemical toxicology, mechanism of action of vesicants, skin toxicity, wound healing, immunotoxicology, environmental biomarkers, chemical weapons, animal models and infectious disease

Dr. Casillas has 14 years experience in chemical and biological warfare (CBW) medical and non-medical defense research programs, and 22 years of biochemical toxicology research and analysis experience with microorganisms and animals.  Dr. Casillas specializes in medical countermeasures against the full spectrum of Chemical Threat Agents (CTA’s) which includes Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA’s).  Specialization includes the development and use of in vivo (small and large animal) and in vitro models to assess safety and efficacy of antidotes, skin protectants/decontaminants against CTA’s, and in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requirements to provide data for FDA filing.  His expertise includes: CBW/bioterrorism defense, skin toxicology, mammalian and microbial xenobiotic metabolism, and environmental toxicology. 

 

 

Recent Publications:

Kiser, RC, FM Reid, EE McGuinness, JM Mann, Jr., CT Olson, RP Casillas, and JS Graham.  Development of toxic industrial chemical-induced cutaneous lesions in swine.  47th Annual SOT Meeting, 16-20 March, 2008, Seattle, WA.

Black, AT, LB Joseph, JP Gray, DR Gerecke, RP Casillas, DL Laskin, and JD Laskin.  Upregulation of the 5-lipoxygenase leukotriene biosynthetic pathway by the vesicant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide in a mouse keratinocytes.  47th Annual SOT Meeting, 16-20 March, 2008, Seattle, WA.

Jan, Y-H, JP Gray, AT Black, DR Gerecke, RP Casillas, DL Laskin, and JD Laskin.  Mechanism of inhibition of thioredoxin reductase in lung epithelial cells by the vesicant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide.  47th Annual SOT Meeting, 16-20 March, 2008, Seattle, WA.

Chang, Y-C, CLK Sabourin, KKH Svoboda, S-E Lou, MK Gordon, RP Casillas, and DR Gerecke.  Sulfur mustard induced changes in laminin-332 in the mouse ear vesicant model (MEVM).  47th Annual SOT Meeting, 16-20 March, 2008, Seattle, WA.

Gray, JP, AT Black, DR Gerecke, MK Gordon, MA Gallo, ND Heindel, PJ Sinko, RP Casillas, M-T Huang, RB Dyer, C Chung, DL Laskin, JD Laskin, and DE Heck.  Vesicant injury increases expression of matrix degrading enzymes and inflammatory mediators in a mouse ear model.  47th Annual SOT Meeting, 16-20 March, 2008, Seattle, WA.

Chang, Y-C, CLK Sabourin, JD Laskin, MK Gordon, RP Casillas, and DR Gerecke.  Differential gene expression in sulfur mustard treated murine skin after treatment with MMP-2/MMP-9 inhibitor I.  47th Annual SOT Meeting, 16-20 March, 2008, Seattle, WA.

Chang, Y.-C., P. M. Zito, R. A. Hahn, C. L. K. Sabourin, R. P. Casillas, M. K. Gordon and D. R. Gerecke (2007). "Altered gene expression in skin after sulfur mustard exposure." FASEB J 21: A233.

Chang, Y-C, PM Zito, RA Hahn, CLK Sabourin, RP Casillas, MK Gordon, and DR Gerecke.  Microarray analysis of murine gene changes after cutaneous sulfur mustard exposure.  Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, April 28-May 2, 2007, Washington, DC

Chang, Y-C, PM Zito, RA Hahn, CLK Sabourin, RP Casillas, MK Gordon, and DR Gerecke.  Microarray analysis of murine gene upregulation after cutaneous sulfur mustard exposure.  46th Annual SOT Meeting, 25-29 March, 2007, Charlotte, NC.

Shakarjian MP, Bhatt P, Gordon MK, Chang YC, Casbohm SL, Rudge TL, Kiser RC, Sabourin CL, Casillas RP, Ohman-Strickland P, Riley DJ, Gerecke DR. Preferential expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in mouse skin after sulfur mustard exposure. J Appl Toxicol 2006; 26(3): 239-246. [abstract]

Sabourin CL, Rogers JV, Choi YW, Kiser RC, Casillas RP, Babin MC, Schlager JJ. Time- and dose-dependent analysis of gene expression using microarrays in sulfur mustard-exposed mice. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2004; 18(6): 300-312. [abstract]

Rogers JV, Choi YW, Kiser RC, Babin MC, Casillas RP, Schlager JJ, Sabourin CL. Microarray analysis of gene expression in murine skin exposed to sulfur mustard. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2004; 18(6): 289-299. [abstract]

Casbohm SL, Rogers JV, Stonerock MK, Martin JL, Ricketts-Kaminsky KM, Babin MC, Casillas RP, Sabourin CL. Localization of substance P gene expression for evaluating protective countermeasures against sulfur mustard. 2004; 204(2-3): 229-239. [abstract]

Wormser U, Sintov A, Brodsky B, Casillas RP, Nyska A. Protective effect of topical iodine containing anti-inflammatory drugs against sulfur mustard-induced skin lesions. Arch Toxicol 2004; 78(3): 156-166. [abstract]

Sabourin CL, Danne MM, Buxton KL, Casillas RP, Schlager JJ. Cytokine, chemokine, and matrix metalloproteinase response after sulfur mustard injury to weanling pig skin. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2002; 16(6): 263-272. [abstract]

Ricketts KM, Santai CT, France JA, Graziosi AM, Doyel TD, Gazaway MY, Casillas RP. Inflammatory cytokine response in sulfur mustard-exposed mouse skin. J Appl Toxicol 2000; 20(Suppl 1):S73-S76. [abstract]

Powers JC, Kam CM, Ricketts KM, Casillas RP. Cutaneous protease activity in the mouse ear vesicant model. J Appl Toxicol 2000; 20(Suppl 1): S177-S182. [abstract]

Casillas RP, Kiser RC, Truxall JA, Blank JA, Singer AW, Ricketts KM, Mitcheltree LW, Stemler FW.  Therapeutic approaches to dermatotoxicity by sulfur mustard. I. Modulation of sulfur mustard-induced cutaneous injury in the mouse ear vesicant model.  J Appl Toxicol 2000; 20:S145-S151

Casillas RP, Kam C-M, Powers JC.  Serine and cysteine proteases in sulfur mustard exposed hairless mouse skin: enzymatic activity and inhibition profiles.  J Toxicol Cutaneous Ocul Toxicol 2000; 19:137-151

Monteiro-Riviere NA, Inman AO, Babin MC, Casillas RP.  Localization of nine epidermal-dermal junction epitopes in the mouse ear exposed to bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide.  J Appl Toxicol 1999; 19:313-328

Casillas RP, Mitcheltree LW, and Stemler FW.  The mouse ear model of cutaneous sulfur mustard injury.  Toxicol Methods 1997; 7:381-397

 

Copyright © 2008 Joshua P. Gray