Roberto Castro Gutierrez, PhD

Roberto Castro Gutierrez earned his PhD degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, under the mentoring of Dr. Holger Russ at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes. This is where he was trained in stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, genetic engineering, and immunology. His PhD dissertation focused on the generation of insulin producing beta cells from stem cells and developed strategies to protect them from immune rejection.   

Now at the Tang lab, he will focus on the generation of tissue specific regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies. By genetic engineering of T cell receptors (TCRs) and Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) the immunosuppressive role of Tregs can be directed towards specific targets, including the insulin producing beta cell. He will employ these methods to develop functional Tregs that can be used to protect insulin producing beta cells from immune destruction during Type 1 Diabetes. Outside the lab Roberto enjoys running and playing a variety of sports like basketball, soccer, and volleyball.