Robert Taylor said in an interview that he was "quite
surprised, frankly" to be given the award, though
his colleagues were less surprised. Said Andrew La Barbera
PhD HCLD, scientific director of the ASRM, "Dr
Taylor really stood out, because his work combines clinical
and basic science research. He has really made major
contributions.
Dr Taylor conducted much of his research
at the University of California, San Fransisco, where
he worked until relocating two years ago, and where
he also did his residency. He has most been interested
in how hormones influence gene expression in endometrial
cells to create an inflammatory environment and spur
angiogenesis when they are in the peritoneum.
In one recent publication, Dr Taylor
and colleagues reported that the peroxisome-proliferator-activated
receptor (PPAR-y) agonist rosiglitazone can suppress
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein secretion
by endothelial cells; work that suggests that PPAR-y
ligans could be used to block angiogenesis in endometriosis
and endometrial adenocarcinoma [1].
In another publication, his group described
how sulindac suppresses the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway
in endometrial stromal cells, inhibiting proinflammatory
processes [2].
In his future work, Dr Taylor intends
to focus on angiogenesis in endometrial adenocarcinoma
and on the utility of some herbal remedies, such as
curcumin, a component of the Indian curry spice turmeric,
for treating the symptoms of endometriosis [3].
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