RobertJ.PignoloMDPh.D.

Department Chair, Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Mayo Clinic and Director, Translation and Pharmacology Program, Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging

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Office
200 1st St SW
Rochester, MN 55905
Phone+1 507-284-2511

Summary

The research goals of Robert J. Pignolo, M.D., Ph.D., are to understand the mechanisms underlying skeletal aging, and to use insights from rare bone diseases to inform new ways of studying and treating conditions of skeletal dysfunction. Dr. Pignolo's work has relevance to stem cell biology, regenerative medicine and the influence of micro-environmental effects on cellular aging.

Areas of focus include: aging of bone, mesenchymal stem cell biology, circulating osteogenic precursor (COP) cells, and disorders of extraskeletal bone formation.

The work performed by Dr. Pignolo has tremendous clinical implications for age-related osteoporosis, fractures, various conditions of disease-associated bone loss, rare bone diseases such as FOP, common conditions of heterotopic bone formation, frailty and sarcopenia.

Education & Training

University of Pennsylvania Health SystemFellowship, Geriatric Medicine (Internal Medicine), 2001 - 2003
Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University HospitalResidency, Internal Medicine, 1998 - 2001
MCP-Hahnemann College of MedicineClass of 1998

Certifications & Licensure

MN State Medical License 2016 - 2025
PA State Medical License 1999 - 2016
American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine Geriatric Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Regional Top Doctor Castle Connolly, 2014
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2012-2013

Clinical Trials

An Efficacy and Safety Study of Palovarotene to Treat Preosseous Flare-ups in FOP Subjects Start of enrollment: 2014 Jul 14
Completed
Phase 2

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Age-related changes in gait, balance, and strength parameters: A cross-sectional study.
Asghar Rezaei, Sandesh G Bhat, Chih-Hsiu Cheng, Robert J Pignolo, Lichun Lu
Plos One. 2024-01-01
244 citations
A new gene set identifies senescent cells and predicts senescence-associated pathways across tissues.
Dominik Saul, Robyn Laura Kosinsky, Elizabeth J Atkinson, Madison L Doolittle, Xu Zhang
Nature Communications. 2022-08-16
705 citations
Targeting cellular senescence prevents age-related bone loss in mice
Joshua N. Farr, Ming Xu, Megan M. Weivoda, David G. Monroe, Daniel G. Fraser
Nature Medicine. 2017-09-01

Journal Articles

Diagnosis and Management of Pseudohypoparathyroidism and Related Disorders: First International Consensus Statement
Robert Pignolo, Ashley H Shoemaker, Michael A Levine, Nature

Press Mentions

Nanoparticle Vaccines ExplainedFebruary 16th, 2022
Retrospective Study Finds That Cancer Drug Also Lowers Blood GlucoseNovember 9th, 2021
Retrospective Study Finds That Cancer Drug Also Lowers Blood GlucoseNovember 8th, 2021
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Grant Support

Molecular Genetics Of Progressive Osseous HeteroplasiaNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2011
Histology CoreNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2011
Osteoporosis And Osteoblast Differentiation In Mouse Models Of Accelerated AgingNational Institute On Aging2007–2011
Circulating Osteogenic Cells In Aging And DiseaseNational Institute On Aging2005–2007