James Robb (pathologist)

James A. Robb is an American pathologist and molecular virologist.

Robb has a BA in theoretical physics from the University of Colorado. In 1965, he began medical studies at the University of Colorado Medical School, where he took his MD degree. He took a residency in pathology, as well as training in molecular biology, at Yale University, then went to work at the National Institutes of Health. He has been a professor at the University of California, San Diego, a consulting pathologist at the National Cancer Institute, and director of anatomic and molecular pathology at Cedars Medical Center in Miami, Florida.{{cite web|url=https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/-b-james-robb-b-a-consulting-pathologist-at-b-the-national-cancer-institute-nci-b-joins-b-cloudlims-b-scientific-advisory-board-/|title=James Robb, A Consulting Pathologist At The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Joins CloudLIMS Scientific Advisory Board|date=April 15, 2016|work=Biospace|access-date=2 March 2020}} He is board certified in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, cytopathology, and dermatopathology.

During the 1970s while he was at UC-San Diego, Robb published some of the earliest descriptions of coronaviruses.{{cite web|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/zinc-lozenges-coronavirus/|title=Did a Noted Pathologist Write This Viral Coronavirus Advice Letter?|last=Kasprak|first=Alex|date=2 March 2020|work=Snopes|access-date=3 March 2020}} He co-wrote the chapter on coronaviruses in the book Comprehensive Virology{{Cite book|doi = 10.1007/978-1-4684-3563-4_3|isbn = 978-1-4684-3565-8|chapter = Coronaviridae|title = Comprehensive Virology|year = 1979|last1 = Robb|first1 = James A.|last2 = Bond|first2 = Clifford W.|pages = 193–247}} and has published extensively on the subject.{{cite journal|last1=Robb|first1=JA|last2=Bond|first2=CW|date=30 April 1979|title=Pathogenic murine coronaviruses I. Characterization of biological behavior in vitro and virus-specific intracellular RNA of strongly neurotropic JHMV and weakly neurotropic A59V viruses|journal=Virology|volume=94|issue=2|pages=352–370|doi=10.1016/0042-6822(79)90467-7|pmid=572112|pmc=7131751}}{{cite journal|last1=Bond|first1=CW|last2=Leibowitx|first2=JL|last3=Robb|first3=JA|date=30 April 1979|title=Pathogenic murine coronaviruses II. Characterization of virus-specific proteins of murine coronaviruses JHMV and A59V

|journal=Virology|volume=94|issue=2|pages=371–384|doi=10.1016/0042-6822(79)90468-9|pmid=572113|pmc=7131175}} In February 2020, he wrote a "Dear colleagues" open letter detailing his advice on how to avoid contracting COVID-19 and similar diseases. In March 2020, this open letter received multiple on-line re-postings and obtained wide attention.{{cite news|url=https://wlos.com/news/local/local-microbiologist-weighs-in-on-advice-from-longtime-corona-virus-expert|title=Local microbiologist weighs in on advice from longtime coronavirus expert|last=Wynne|first=Karen|date=March 3, 2020|work=ABC News 13|access-date=5 March 2020}}{{cite news | url=http://www.sanfernandosun.com/news/article_068568f4-5e90-11ea-ae12-c79d5f80c4a7.html | title=Tips: Pathologist Offers Understanding and Tips on Avoiding Coronavirus | work=San Fernando Sun | date=2020-03-04 | access-date=2020-11-24}}