Department of Surgery

Ruben Zamora, PhD

  • Research Professor of Surgery

Dr. Zamora collaborates with members of the Department of Surgery and the Billiar Lab to study various aspects of trauma/hemorrhage-induced inflammation, including the roles of NO in hepatocyte apoptosis, the role of endogenous danger signals in trauma/hemorrhage-induced inflammation, characterization of peroxisomal inducible NO synthase, characterization of the roles of hepatocytes in the response to endotoxin, and functional genomics of trauma/hemorrhage. He also collaborates with Dr. Shirley Luckhart (University of California-Davis), Yoram Vodovotz (Dept. of Surgery), Bard Ermentrout (University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Mathematics), and Greg Constantine (University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Mathematics) to examine the cross-regulation of NO and TGF-β1 between the immune systems of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes and their mammalian hosts, and to create computational simulations of cross-species immune modulation in the setting of malaria. Lastly, Dr. Zamora collaborates with various members of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences to create mathematical models of the interactions among inflammation, tissue damage/healing, and rehabilitation strategies following training and injury in Special Forces soldiers. He works with Dr. David Brienza (University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Rehabilitation Science and Technology), Gary An (Northwestern University, Dept. of Surgery), Qi Mi (University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Sports Medicine and Nutrition), and Greg Constantine (University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Mathematics) on mathematical modeling of the inflammatory response to spinal cord injury and subsequent complications (pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, and musculoskeletal injuries).

Education & Training

  • BSc, University of Veszprém
  • MS, University of Veszprém
  • PhD, University of Antwerp
  • Post-doctoral Fellowship, University of Antwerp
  • Post-doctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh

Representative Publications

Dr. Zamora's publications can be reviewed through PubMed.

Research, Clinical, and/or Academic Interests

  • Expression and localization of BNIP3 in mouse and human hepatocytes and the contribution of BNIP3 to hepatic cell death/apoptosis/necrosis in vitro and in vivo
  • Analysis and characterization of the global response of mouse and human hepatocytes in vitro as a function of O2 using multiplexing cytokine analysis (Luminex technology) coupled with data-driven modeling to gain insights into the dynamics of the inflammatory response to both normoxia and hypoxia

Faculty by divisions