World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
95
Citations
27742
World Ranking
1939
National Ranking
1063

Overview

Robert McKenna is affiliated with the University of Florida in the United States. Their primary research focus spans biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, with significant contributions in medicine. The main subfields of their study include molecular biology, genetics, infectious diseases, epidemiology, and organic chemistry. Their work covers multiple specialized topics such as virus-based gene therapy research, enzyme function and inhibition, synthesis and catalytic reactions, viral infections and immunology research, animal virus infections studies, RNA interference and gene delivery, and viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology.

McKenna has published extensively, with notable recent papers including:

  • Elucidating the role of metal ions in carbonic anhydrase catalysis (2020, Nature Communications)
  • Sulfonamide Inhibitors of Human Carbonic Anhydrases Designed through a Three-Tails Approach: Improving Ligand/Isoform Matching and Selectivity of Action (2020, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry)
  • Completion of the AAV Structural Atlas: Serotype Capsid Structures Reveals Clade-Specific Features (2021, Viruses)
  • Semirational bioengineering of AAV vectors with increased potency and specificity for systemic gene therapy of muscle disorders (2022, Science Advances)
  • Inclusion of a 5-fluorouracil moiety in nitrogenous bases derivatives as human carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors produced a targeted action against MDA-MB-231 and T47D breast cancer cells (2020, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry)

Their frequent co-authors include Mario Mietzsch, Paul R. Chipman, Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, Jacob T. Andring, and Antonette Bennett, reflecting collaborations across various studies.

McKenna's work is often published in specific venues related to virology and molecular biology, with the most frequent publication outlets being:

  • Viruses (14 publications)
  • Journal of Virology (12 publications)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (7 publications)
  • Nature Communications (6 publications)
  • Molecular Therapy - Methods & Clinical Development (5 publications)

Their research interests involve detailed studies of enzyme mechanisms, especially related to carbonic anhydrases, as well as the structural and functional analysis of viral capsids and development of viral vectors for gene therapy applications. The integration of chemistry and molecular biology is reflected in their exploration of chemical inhibitors and targeted therapeutic agents.

Best Publications

  • Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy: experience with 1,100 cases.

    Robert J. McKenna;Ward Houck;Clark Beeman Fuller

  • Concurrent cisplatin/etoposide plus chest radiotherapy followed by surgery for stages IIIA (N2) and IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer: mature results of Southwest Oncology Group phase II study 8805.

    Kathy S. Albain;Valerie W. Rusch;John J. Crowley;Thomas W. Rice

  • Randomized trial of mediastinal lymph node sampling versus complete lymphadenectomy during pulmonary resection in the patient with N0 or N1 (less than hilar) non–small cell carcinoma: Results of the American College of Surgery Oncology Group Z0030 Trial

    Gail E. Darling;Mark S. Allen;Paul A. Decker;Karla Ballman

  • Patients at high risk of death after lung-volume-reduction surgery

    Alfred Fishman;Henry Fessler;Fernando Martinez

  • Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy: Report of CALGB 39802—A Prospective, Multi-Institution Feasibility Study

    Scott J. Swanson;James E. Herndon;Thomas A. D'Amico;Todd L. Demmy

  • The Society of Thoracic Surgeons expert consensus for the surgical treatment of hyperhidrosis.

    Robert J. Cerfolio;Jose Ribas Milanez De Campos;Ayesha S. Bryant;Cliff P. Connery

  • A randomized prospective trial of stapled lung reduction versus laser bullectomy for diffuse emphysema

    Robert J. McKenna;Matthew Brenner;Arthur F. Gelb;Michael Mullin

  • Patient and surgical factors influencing air leak after lung volume reduction surgery: lessons learned from the National Emphysema Treatment Trial.

    Malcolm M. DeCamp;Eugene H. Blackstone;Keith S. Naunheim;Mark J. Krasna

  • Structure of Adeno-Associated Virus Serotype 8, a Gene Therapy Vector

    Hyun Joo Nam;Michael Douglas Lane;Eric Padron;Brittney Gurda

  • Selective hydrophobic pocket binding observed within the carbonic anhydrase II active site accommodate different 4-substituted-ureido-benzenesulfonamides and correlate to inhibitor potency.

    Fabio Pacchiano;Mayank Aggarwal;Balendu Sankara Avvaru;Arthur H. Robbins

  • Lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery with mediastinal node sampling for lung cancer

    Robert J. McKenna

  • Atomic structure of single-stranded DNA bacteriophage ΦX174 and its functional implications

    Robert McKenna;Di Xia;Di Xia;Peter Willingmann;Peter Willingmann;Leodevico L. Ilag;Leodevico L. Ilag

  • Asparagine synthetase: Function, structure, and role in disease

    Carrie L. Lomelino;Jacob T. Andring;Robert McKenna;Michael S. Kilberg

  • Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy Is Less Costly and Morbid Than Open Lobectomy: A Retrospective Multiinstitutional Database Analysis

    Scott J. Swanson;Bryan F. Meyers;Candace L. Gunnarsson;Matthew Moore

  • Should lung volume reduction for emphysema be unilateral or bilateral

    Robert J. McKenna;Matthew Brenner;Richard J. Fischel;Arthur F. Gelb

  • Effect of Endobronchial Coils vs Usual Care on Exercise Tolerance in Patients With Severe Emphysema: The RENEW Randomized Clinical Trial

    Frank C. Sciurba;Gerard J. Criner;Charlie Strange;Pallav L Shah

  • Surgical resection of stage IIIA and stage IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer after concurrent induction chemoradiotherapy. A Southwest Oncology Group trial.

    Valerie W. Rusch;Kathy S. Albain;John J. Crowley;Thomas W. Rice

  • Comparing robot-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy with conventional video-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy and wedge resection: results from a multihospital database (Premier).

    Scott J. Swanson;Daniel L. Miller;Robert Joseph McKenna;John Howington

  • Is lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery an adequate cancer operation?

    Robert J McKenna;Randall K Wolf;Matthew Brenner;Richard J Fischel

  • Treatment of persistent pulmonary air leaks using endobronchial valves.

    John M. Travaline;Robert J. McKenna;Tiziano De Giacomo;Federico Venuta

Frequent Co-Authors

Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
Mavis Agbandje-McKenna University of Florida
David N. Silverman
David N. Silverman University of Florida
Chingkuang Tu
Chingkuang Tu University of Florida
Claudiu T. Supuran
Claudiu T. Supuran University of Florence
Paul R. Chipman
Paul R. Chipman University of Florida
Timothy S. Baker
Timothy S. Baker University of California, San Diego
Nicholas Muzyczka
Nicholas Muzyczka University of Florida
Ben M. Dunn
Ben M. Dunn University of Florida
Fabrizio Carta
Fabrizio Carta University of Florence
Michael G. Rossmann
Michael G. Rossmann Purdue University West Lafayette

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