Dr. Orkin no longer conducts research but instead primarily advises trainees and junior faculty on grant opportunities and the grant writing process.
Research Background
Trained as an extracellular matrix developmental biologist, Roslyn W. Orkin, Ph.D. transitioned to academic administration in 1999 when she became Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs at Harvard Medical School. She joined Boston Children's Hospital in 2005 and became Associate Chief for Faculty Development in the Division of Hematology/Oncology in 2009. She works primarily one-on-one with trainees and junior faculty regarding grant funding opportunities and preparing grant applications (both national and private). Dr. Orkin also prepares and submits honorific award and professional society nominations for faculty. In addition, Dr. Orkin participates in preparation of programmatic award/funding opportunities and programmatic evaluation for the Division of Hematology/Oncology.
Dr. Orkin received a PhD from the Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard University. After postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health and Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Orkin joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School, with a research lab at Massachusetts General Hospital and teaching at Harvard Medical School. She left Massachusetts General Hospital in 1999, transitioning first to Harvard Medical School and then to Boston Children's Hospital in 2005. Dr. Orkin is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. In addition, Dr. Orkin is Associate Chief for Faculty Development, and Associate Scientific Researcher in Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital.
Selected Publications
Orkin RW, Gehron P, McGoodwin EB, Martin GR, Valentine T, and Swarm.R. A murine tumor producing matrix of basement membrane. The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 1977; 145: 204-220. Orkin RW and Toole BP. Isolation and characterization of hyaluronidase from cultures of chick embryo skin- and muscle-derived fibroblasts. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1980; 255: 1036-1042.
Heathcote JG and Orkin RW. Biosynthesis of sulphated macromolecules by rabbit lens epithelium. I. Identification of the major macromolecules synthesized by lens epithelial cells in vitro. The Journal of Cell Biology. 1984; 99: 852-860.
Bernanke DH and Orkin RW. Hyaluronidase activity in embryonic chick heart muscle and cushion tissues and cells. Developmental Biology. 1984; 106: 351-359.
McGuire PG and Orkin RW. Isolation of rat aortic endothelial cells by primary explant techniques and their phenotypic modulation by defined substrata. Laboratory Investigation. 1987; 57: 94-105.
Benbrahim A, L'Italien GJ, Milinazzo B, Warnock DF, Dhara S, Gertler JP, Orkin RW, and Abbott WM. A compliant tubular device to study the influence of wall motion and shear stress on cells of the vascular wall. The Journal of Vascular Surgery. 1994; 20: 184-194.
Morgan BM, Orkin RW, Noramly S, and Perez A. Stage specific effects of sonic hedgehog expression in the epidermis. Developmental Biology. 1998; 201:1-12.
Dai G, Tsukurov OI, Orkin RW, Kamm RD, and Gertler JP. An in vitro cell culture system to study the influence of external pneumatic compression on endothelial function. The Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2000; 32:977-987.
Publications
The effect of combined arterial hemodynamics on saphenous venous endothelial nitric oxide production. J Vasc Surg. 2001 Jun; 33(6):1199-205. View Abstract
An in vitro cell culture system to study the influence of external pneumatic compression on endothelial function. J Vasc Surg. 2000 Nov; 32(5):977-87. View Abstract
The response of adult human saphenous vein endothelial cells to combined pressurized pulsatile flow and cyclic strain, in vitro. Ann Vasc Surg. 2000 May; 14(3):260-7. View Abstract
Comparison of human umbilical vein and adult saphenous vein endothelial cells: implications for newborn hemostasis and for laboratory models of endothelial cell function. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2000 May-Jun; 22(3):266-8. View Abstract
Comparison of tissue factor pathway in human umbilical vein and adult saphenous vein endothelial cells: implications for newborn hemostasis and for laboratory models of endothelial cell function. Pediatr Res. 1999 Dec; 46(6):742-7. View Abstract
Stage-specific effects of sonic hedgehog expression in the epidermis. Dev Biol. 1998 Sep 01; 201(1):1-12. View Abstract
Characteristics of vascular wall cells subjected to dynamic cyclic strain and fluid shear conditions in vitro. J Surg Res. 1996 Oct; 65(2):119-27. View Abstract
A compliant tubular device to study the influences of wall strain and fluid shear stress on cells of the vascular wall. J Vasc Surg. 1994 Aug; 20(2):184-94. View Abstract
Hemodynamics and aneurysm development in vascular allografts. J Vasc Surg. 1993 Dec; 18(6):955-63; discussion 963-4. View Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging of small arteries. J Surg Res. 1992 Oct; 53(4):391-5. View Abstract
Urokinase activity in the developing avian heart: a spatial and temporal analysis. Dev Dyn. 1992 Jan; 193(1):24-33. View Abstract
Spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats are genetically disparate. Lab Anim Sci. 1991 Oct; 41(5):471-3. View Abstract
Increased deposition of basement membrane macromolecules in specific vessels of the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Am J Pathol. 1989 Aug; 135(2):291-9. View Abstract
Isolation of rat aortic endothelial cells by primary explant techniques and their phenotypic modulation by defined substrata. Lab Invest. 1987 Jul; 57(1):94-105. View Abstract
Loss of hyaluronate-dependent coat during myoblast fusion. Dev Biol. 1985 Feb; 107(2):527-30. View Abstract
Hyaluronate binding and degradation by cultured embryonic chick cardiac cushion and myocardial cells. Dev Biol. 1984 Dec; 106(2):360-7. View Abstract
Hyaluronidase activity in embryonic chick heart muscle and cushion tissue and cells. Dev Biol. 1984 Dec; 106(2):351-9. View Abstract
Biosynthesis of sulphated macromolecules by rabbit lens epithelium. I. Identification of the major macromolecules synthesized by lens epithelial cells in vitro. J Cell Biol. 1984 Sep; 99(3):852-60. View Abstract
Biosynthesis of sulphated macromolecules by rabbit lens epithelium. II. Relationship to basement membrane formation. J Cell Biol. 1984 Sep; 99(3):861-9. View Abstract
Increased adhesiveness of Down syndrome fetal fibroblasts in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Apr; 81(8):2426-30. View Abstract
Hyaluronate degradation in 3T3 and simian virus-transformed 3T3 cells. J Biol Chem. 1982 May 25; 257(10):5821-6. View Abstract
Current concepts of basement-membrane structure and function. Biosci Rep. 1981 Nov; 1(11):819-42. View Abstract
Chick embryo fibroblasts produce two forms of hyaluronidase. J Cell Biol. 1980 May; 85(2):248-57. View Abstract
Isolation and characterization of hyaluronidase from cultures of chick embryo skin- and muscle-derived fibroblasts. J Biol Chem. 1980 Feb 10; 255(3):1036-42. View Abstract
Hyaluronidase activity and hyaluronate content of the developing chick embryo heart. Dev Biol. 1978 Oct; 66(2):308-20. View Abstract
Hyaluronidase activity in cultured chick embryo skin fibroblasts. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1977 Jul 11; 77(1):132-8. View Abstract
Defects in the cartilaginous growth plates of brachymorphic mice. J Cell Biol. 1977 May; 73(2):287-99. View Abstract
Developmental roles of hyaluronate and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. Soc Gen Physiol Ser. 1977; 32:139-54. View Abstract
A murine tumor producing a matrix of basement membrane. J Exp Med. 1977 Jan 01; 145(1):204-20. View Abstract
Collagen in developing chick muscle in vivo and in vitro. Exp Cell Res. 1976 May; 99(2):261-8. View Abstract
Undersulfated chondroitin sulfate in the cartilage matrix of brachymorphic mice. Dev Biol. 1976 May; 50(1):82-94. View Abstract
Synthesis and distribution of collagen in the rat palate during shelf elevation. Dev Biol. 1976 Mar; 49(1):80-8. View Abstract
SDS gel analysis of muscle proteins in embryonic cells. Dev Biol. 1973 Dec; 35(2):388-94. View Abstract