J Roberto Trujillo

José Roberto Trujillo (born July 14, 1963, México), is President and CEO of TruBios LLC, a biotech company based in Maryland. He is founder and President of the Pan-American Society of NeuroVirology and Chairman of the nonprofit organization Medical Science Foundation on Behalf of the Americas. Trujillo is a pioneer in the field of neurovirology. He was the first doctoral student at Harvard University to combine the studies of neuroscience and virology. “Dr. Trujillo was the first neurovirologist at Harvard. He remained at Harvard as an investigator of neurovirology and retrovirus until 2002”.

Early life and education

Trujillo was born in Mexico City. When he was four, his family moved to the small town of San Pedro Zictepec in central Mexico, where he grew up. At sixteen, Trujillo entered medical school at the University Autonomous of Mexico State (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México). Due to the costly and long commute from his hometown to medical school in the city of Toluca, he moved into the hospital, living in the residence quarters and going home occasionally on weekends. Trujillo rotated with the residents and assisted with procedures. He delivered his first baby at the age of sixteen, and performed his first major surgery, a caesarean section, at the age of seventeen.

Early in his career, Trujillo aspired to be a neurosurgeon. As his career progressed, he switched to neurology, focusing on the study of neurological diseases that did not have effective treatments and cures at the time, such as brain tumors, brain cancers, and infectious diseases of the central nervous system. He was also heavily influenced by the AIDS epidemic, as his training coincided with the height of the epidemic in the late 1980s. After medical school, Trujillo completed a clinical neuroscience fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. It was at Baylor where he was exposed to the effects of HIV and where he first got involved in clinical research. Trujillo then attended Harvard University, where he studied virology and neuroscience and received a Degree of Doctor of Science in Cancer Biology.

Research and academia

In 1988, Trujillo received his medical degree from University Autonomous of Mexico State (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México) with Summa Cum Laude honors. He subsequently completed an internship in medicine and a two-year clinical neuroscience fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Through a National Research Training Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), he conducted research in virology and neuroscience, and in 1995, Trujillo received a Doctor of Science from Harvard University. He remained at Harvard as a Research Associate in Neurovirology and Cell Biology until 2002, when he became an intramural investigator at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the NIH. His continued research in neurovirology and AIDS led him to the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where in 2002, he was named Director of Latin American Research in Virology and Neurosciences and Head of the Laboratory of Neurovirology.

Trujillo is an Advisor Professor at Harvard Medical School, Honorary Professor at the University Autonomous of Mexico State, Professor in Medical Sciences at the University Autonomous of Guadalajara, Adjunct Professor at the University Autonomous of Nuevo León, Adjunct Faculty at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion in Mexico City, Visiting Professor at the University of Campinas in Brazil, Visiting Professor at the Institute of Infectious Diseases “Emilio Ribas”, and a Guest Professor at the Shandong Institute of Virology in China. Trujillo’s most celebrated research to date focused on viral-immune responses in the nervous system, opportunistic infections of AIDS, such as neurocysticercosis, and the molecular basis of HIV-1 neurotropism. Trujillo first described “molecular mimicry” between the HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop and human brain proteins. This research resulted in a publication that was chosen as the highlight paper by the American Society of Microbiology and paper of the year by Harvard School of Public Health. He discovered that viral molecular mimicry induces [...] of cancerous brain cells. He identified that a MR-mediated pathway does not elicit a productive HIV-1 infection in macrophages, microglia cells and astrocytes, a discovery that may foster new HIV-1 vaccine design and improve the understanding of HIV-1/AIDS pathogenesis. Publication of this work appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. With his collaborators, Trujillo has authored more than 60 scientific peer-reviewed manuscripts and reviews, over 50 conference abstracts, and book chapters. Through sponsorship of the Office of AIDS Research, NIH, Trujillo created four multimedia CD-ROMs for scientific meetings, including the “3-D Animation Model of HIV-1 Neurotropism.”

Leadership and entrepreneurship

Trujillo co-led the physical development of the first Biological Level-3 laboratory in Mexico (1998) and then the Health Science Center in Monterrey in Mexico (2005-2009). He oversaw the creation of the MD/PhD, postdoctoral and professorial exchange programs between Mexican universities and U.S. institutions, including Harvard University, the NIH, and the University of Maryland. He developed [...]-edge research programs in the Americas and chaired more than 20 international meetings, including 3 Pan-American Symposiums. Trujillo founded the Pan-American Society of Neurovirology, for which there are offices in Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S.

In 2013, Trujillo received the Ohtli Recognition by the Government of Mexico, an award that recognizes and honors individuals whose efforts have contributed to the well-being, prosperity and empowerment of Mexican communities abroad. NIH awards include the National Research NIH Training Award and the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. From Harvard University, he received the Helena Rubinstein Award and recognition as a Pioneer in the field of Neurovirology in the Americas. He also received the Outstanding Professor of Neurovirology award from the Pan-American Society of Neurology (Colombia), the Outstanding Professional of Science award in Mexico, and twice the "Key of the City" in Mexico.

Trujillo is recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential Professional Mexicans in the U.S." Trujillo serves as Ad Hoc Reviewer of the Office of AIDS Research, NIH, the World Bank, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH. He is a former Permanent Member for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research Committee at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH.

Honors and awards

  • 1977 Valedictorian, High School, Estado de México, México.
  • 1975-1985 Scholarship Award, National Electric Co., México DF, México.
  • 1980 Summa Cum Laude, College Graduate, Estado de México, México.
  • 1981 A-H Robins of Mexico Award, Recognition for Achievement the highest scores of Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México.
  • 1982 A-H Robins of Mexico Award, Recognition for Achievement the highest scores of Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México.
  • 1983 A-H Robins of Mexico Award, Recognition for Achievement the highest scores of Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México.
  • 1983-1985 Faculty of Medicine Scholarship Award.
  • 1985 Award for Achievement of Highest Scholastic Grades: 1980-1985.
  • 1985-1987 International Scholarship Training Award, Governor of the Estado de México, Toluca, México.
  • 1987 Presea de la Juventud State Award, Distinction as an Outstanding Young Professional in the Estado de México, Government of the Estado de México, Toluca, México.
  • 1988 Summa Cum Laude Honors, Professional M.D. Examination, Toluca, Estado de México, México.
  • 1989-1992 National NIH Research Award Training, National Institute of Health Training for Harvard University, National Cancer Institute, NIH., USA.
  • 1994 Paper of the month, The American Society of Microbiology, USA.
  • 1994 Outstanding Article, Acknowledge by the Clinical Digest Series Journal, USA.
  • 1996 Outstanding Professional of Science, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
  • 1996-1999 The Helena Rubinstein Award, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
  • 1996-pres Professor Member, Mexican Academy of Neurology, México DF, México.
  • 1996-pres Extraordinary Professor, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
  • 1997 Distinguished Guest Recognition for Health and Science, Acapulco, Guerrero, México.
  • 1998 Outstanding Professional of Sciences and Mentor Award, for the Development of a new BL-3 Laboratory in México, México.
  • 1999 Recognition as Outstanding Professor of NeuroVirology, The Pan- American Society of Neurology and Colombian Academy of Neurology, Cartagena, Colombia.
  • 1999-2000 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, NIH, USA.
  • 2000 Distinguished Guest Recognition for Health and Science 2000, Acapulco, Guerrero, México.
  • 2000 Professor of NeuroVirology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, México DF, México.
  • 2002 Distinguished Affiliated Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
  • 2004 NINDS Group Merit Award, [“Dedication, Superior Service and Achievement to accomplish research goals of defining mechanism of viral infections pathogenesis in the human brain including HIV-1/AIDS”], NINDS, NIH, USA.
  • 2005 International Professor Award, Ministry of Education and Science, Madrid, Spain. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
  • 2006 Distinguished Guest Recognition for Health and Science, Toluca, Estado de México, México.
  • 2007 Recognition of The Best 100 Mexicans in US, PODER Y NEGOCIOS magazine, México DF, México.
  • 2008 Honorary Professor, Universidad Autónoma of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
  • 2009 Honorary Member of the Mexican Academy of Neurology, México DF, México.
  • 2010 Distinguished Visiting Professor, Department of Neurology, “Hospital do Infectologia Emilio Ribas”, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
  • 2010 Class 2010-2015 “Dr. J. Roberto Trujillo”, Medical School, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México.
  • 2011 COSMOS Member, an Elite and Intellectual Society in Washington DC, USA.
  • 2012 Co-Inventor of the Medical Device for the detection and treatment of early lesion of cervical cancer. First Award of Innovation in Brazil of Medical devices technology, Brazil.
  • 2013 Second Place, “Photodynamic Therapy: Diagnostic and Treatment for the Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia” at the 5th Innovation Award Medical Service: New Ways on Public Health, by Sanofi, April 1, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
  • 2013 Reconocimiento Ohtli, presented by Ambassador Medina Mora, Mexican Embassy for the United States of America, Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior, Washington DC, USA.
  • 2014 Presea 2014 Tenango del Valle, Merit in Research and Science, Government of Tenanango del Valle, Tenango del Valle, Estado de México, México.

Professional society memberships

  • 1990-1991 Member, Student Coordinating Committee, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, USA.
  • 1995-1998 Associate Member, American Academy of Neurology, USA.
  • 1996-2002 Member, Boston Cancer Research Association, USA.
  • 1996-2000 Member, American Society for Microbiology, USA.
  • 1990-pres Member, International AIDS Society (IAS), USA.
  • 1992-pres Honorary Member, Mexican Academy of Neurology, México.
  • 1995-pres Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science, USA.
  • 1998-pres Member, International Association for Comparative Research on Leukemia and Related Diseases, USA.
  • 2000-pres Member Founder, Pan-American Society of Neurovirology, USA.
  • 2010-pres Member, Tech Council of Maryland, USA.

Publications

  • Trujillo, J.R. Use of Cyclophosphamide as a Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Houston Neurological Center, Houston TX, USA. MD's Thesis, Faculty of Medicine, University Autonomous of Mexico State, Mexico, 1987.
  • Trujillo, J.R. Neurological Complications of AIDS: Clinical, Electrophysiological, Radiological and Neuropathological Evaluation. Social Service's Thesis, Instituto Nacional de la Nutricion “Salvador Zubira”. Mexico, 1988.
  • Novak IS, Trujillo JR, Rivera VM, Concklin R, Ussery F, Stool EW, Piot DF. Ganciclovir in the Treatment of CMV Infection in AIDS Patient with Neurological Complications. Neurology, 1989, [Suppl 1]: 39, 379-380.
  • TrujilloEB,BorlaseBC,BellS,GuentherKJ,SwailsW,QueenPM,TrujilloJR. Assessment of Nutritional Status, Nutrient Intake, and Nutrition Support in AIDS Patients. JADA, 1992, 92; 4:477-478.
  • Gildenberg PL, Langford L. Kim JH, Trujillo JR. Stereotactic Biopsy in Cerebral Lesions of AIDS. Acta Neurochirurgica [Suppl], 1993, 58; 68-70.
  • Trujillo JR, Navia BA, McLane MF, Worth J, Lee TH and Essex ME. Autoantibodies to Human brain proteins in AIDS Dementia Complex. Neurology, 1993 [Suppl], 43: A187.
  • Trujillo JR, McLane MF, Lee TH, Essex M. Molecular Mimicry Between Human Immunodeficiency virus Type 1 gp120 V3 loop and Human brain proteins. J Virology, 1993, 67: 7711-7715.
  • Trujillo JR. Acquired Immunonodeficiency Syndrome. In: Dr. Octavio Rivero Serrano. Tratado de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2, Segunda edición, Ed. Manual Moderno, 1994, pag. 105-109.
  • Trujillo JR, Navia B, McLane MF, Worth J, Lee TH, Essex M. Evaluation of Autoantibodies to brain proteins in patients with AIDS Dementia Complex. J AIDS, 1994, 7:103-108.
  • Trujillo JR, McLane MF, Essex M. Molecular Mimicry between the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 and the Neuronal Proto-oncogene N-Myc. Neurology, 1994, 44 (suppl 2) 396
  • Trujillo JR, Navia BA, McLane MF, Worth J, Lucey DR, Lee TH, Essex M. Anti-HIV-1 antibodies in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of patients with AIDS Dementia Complex. Neurology, 1995, 45 (suppl 4) A442.
  • Trujillo JR, Garcia -Ramos G, Novak IS, Rivera VM, Huerta E, Essex M. Neurological Manifestations of AIDS: A comparative study of two Populations from Mexico and the US. J AIDS and Hum Retrov, 1995, 8:23-29.
  • Trujillo JR. Neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 Infection. Doctoral of Science Thesis, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA USA, 1995.
  • Trujillo JR, Wang WK, Essex M, Lee TH. Identification of Envelope V3 loop as a determinant of CD4-negative Neuronal Cell Tropism for HIV-1. Virology, 1996, 217:613- 617.
  • García F., Trujillo JR, Dominguez M, Essex M. Molecular Mimicry and its Implications in the Pathogenesis of TSP HTLV-1-associate Myelopathy in HTLV. In: V. Zaninovic. Truths and Questions. Fundación MAR and COLCIENCIAS, 1996, pp 96–104.
  • Trujillo JR, Navia BA, McLane MF, Worth J, Lucey DR, Lee TH, Essex M. Higher levels of anti-HIV-1 envelope antibodies in Cerebrospinal Fluid of patients with AIDS Dementia Complex. J AIDS and Hum Retrov, 1996, 12:19-25.
  • Trujillo JR, McLane MF, de la Monte S, Navia B, Brain J, Essex M. Molecular Mimicry in HIV-1 Neuropathogenesis: Human Antibodies that bind to gp120 V3 loop and Human brain proteins. J Neurovirology, 1996 2:21.
  • Trujillo E, Trujillo JR, Brain JD. The Molecular Virology of HIV-1 Tropism in HIV-1 Wasting Syndrome and AIDS Dementia Complex. Neurology, 1997, 48 (suppl): 94-95
  • Brain ID, Trujillo JR. Animal Models of Respiratory Infection: Airborn Transmission and Individual Susceptibility. In: Relationships Between Respiratory Disease and Exposure to Air Pollution. Edit U Mohr ILSI Press. 1997, 119-130.
  • Trujillo JR, Rogers R, Brain JD. Share Antigenic Epitopes on the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 and Proteins on Activated Human T-Cells. Virology, 1998, 246:53-62.
  • Rivera-Morales LG, Novitsky VA, Vannberg F, Trujillo JR, Tamez R, Rodriguez C, Essex M. HIV-1 99MX.Y13 From Mexico TrunCAted Envelope Glycoprotein Gene. Accession # AF200921. Nov. 2, 1999. [GeneBank Publication]
  • Trujillo JR, Ramirez-Rodriguez C. Molecular Mimicry in AIDS Dementia Complex. Neurociencias. 2000, 3:8-12
  • Trujillo JR, Goletiani NV, Bosch I, Kendrick C, Rogers R, Trujillo EB, Essex M, Brain JD. The T-Tropic Sequence of the V3 loop is Critical for HIV-1 infection of CXCR4-Positive Colonic HT-29 Epithelial Cells. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2000, 25:1-10
  • Trujillo JR, Essex M, Brain J. HIV-1 Molecular Mimicry and Neuronal Apoptosis. J Neurovirology, 2000 6:257.
  • Trujillo JR. The Neurovirology in the Americas. Neurociencias. 2000, 3:4-7.
  • Rivera-Morales LG, Novitsky VA, Trujillo JR, Lavalle C, Cano C, Ramos Jimenez E, Flores L, Lopez P, Vannberg F, Tamez R, Rodriguez C, Essex M. HIV-1 Subtype B is a predominant AIDS virus in Mexico. AIDS Res Hum Retrovirus, 2001. 17:87-92.
  • Trujillo JR, Ramirez-Rodriguez C, Rogers R, Candanosa-McCann M, Ancer-Rodriguez J, Essex M. The Neuroimmunopathogenesis of HIV. Neurociencias. 2001, 2 (5):259-267.
  • Trujillo JR.. The Common Molecular Virology of HIV-1 Wasting Syndrome. Revista de Salud Publica y Nutricion, 2001, Vol 2:No.4 [outline publication]
  • Trujillo JR, Boursiquot R, Ramirez C, Ancer J, Essex M, Major EO. The Molecular Biology of Neurotropism of HIV-1. Rev Mex Neuroci. 5(2): 127-132, 2004.
  • Jaramillo-Rangel G, Irwin S. Novak IS, Ortega-Martínez MG, Ramirez-Rodriguez C, Ancer-Rodríguez J, Trujillo JR. Neurotropism of CMV. Rev Mex Neuroci. 6 (5):399-410, 2005.
  • Ortega-Martínez MG, Jaramillo-Rangel G, Ancer-Rodríguez J, Trujillo JR. Molecular Mimicry in the Neuropathogenesis of Guillain-Barre. Rev Mex Neuroci. 6 (5): 440-447, 2005.
  • Trujillo JR, Jaramillo-Rangel G, Ortega-Martinez M, Penalva De Oliveira AC, Vidal JE, Bryant J, Gallo RC. International NeuroAIDS: Prospects of HIV-1 Associated Neurological Complications. Cell Research, 2005; 15:962-969.
  • Cedeno F, Penalva de Oliveira AC, Vidal JE, Trujillo JR. Virus Neurotropicos: El virus JC y la Patogenesis de la Leucoencefalopatia Multifocal Progresiva. Rev Mex Neuroci 2006; 7(1): 46-54.
  • Trujillo JR, Wade CS, Robles L, Cedeno-Laurent F. NeuroAIDS and Prospects in Biotechnology. APBN, 2006, 10:583-587
  • Trujillo JR, Ramirez-Rodriguez C, Wade CS. Viral molecular Mimicry as a potencial immunotherapeutic strategy for glioblastoma multiforme. Rev Mex Neuroci 2006; 7(2): 110- 111.
  • Robles L, Penalva de Oliveira AC, Vidal JE, Vasconcellos Faria A, Cedeno-Laurent F Trujillo JR. Terapia antiretroviral en neuroSIDA: Pospectos de la via olfatoria. Rev Mex Neuroci 2006; 7(3): 231-239.
  • Cedeno-Laurent F,Deng A, Gaspari A, Trujillo JR, Bryant J. A novel animal model for the study of AIDS and non-AIDS associated skin disorders. Retrovirology 2006; (3): S40.
  • Trujillo JR, Rogers R, Molina R, Dangond F, Kendrick C, Essex M, Brain JD. A Non- Infectious Entry of HIV-1 into Macrophages is mediated by Mannose Receptor. PNAS 2007; 20:5097-5102.
  • Vidal JE, Fink M, Cedeno-Laurent F, Delbue S, Ferrante P, Dauar RF, Bonasser F, Schiavon R, Calore EE, Panniti CS, Trujillo JR, Penalva de Oliveira AC. BK Virus Associated Meningoencephalitis in an AIDS Patient under HAART: Case Report. AIDS Research & Therapy Editorial 2007, 4:13-17.
  • Trujillo JR, Ramirez-Rodriguez C, Garcia-Ramos G, Martinez Rodríguez HR, Ramos- Jimenez J, Ancer Rodríguez J. Neurocysticercosis and HIV: 25 years of follow-up epidemia.. Rev Mex Neuroci 2007; 8(3): 274-275.
  • Filiberto Cedeno-Laurent, Eric Berg, J. Roberto Trujillo. Complicaciones Neurológicas en Pacientes Co-infectados con el VIH-1 y el Virus de la Hepatitis C. Rev Mex Neurosciences 2007; 8 (5): 512-515.
  • José E. VIDAL, Augusto C. PENALVA DE OLIVEIRA, Maria Cristina D.S. FINK, Cláudio S. PANNUTI, J. Roberto Trujillo. AIDS-Related Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: A Retrospective Study In a Referral Center In São Paulo, Brazil. Rev Inst.Med. Trop. S. Paulo 2008, 50 (4):209-212.
  • Filiberto Cedeno-Laurent, Joseph Bryant, Rita Fishelevich, Odell D. Jones, April Deng, Maria L. Eng, Anthony A. Gaspari, J. Roberto Trujillo. Inflammatory Papillomatous Hyperplasia and epidermal necrosis in a transgenic rat for HIV-1. J Dermatol Sci. 2009, 53;112-119
  • Alida Jileta, J Roberto Trujillo. El Receptor Manosa de los Macrophagos: La via non- infecciosa del VIH. Rev Mex Neuroci. 2009; 10 (1):44-48.
  • FilibertoCedeno-LaurentM.D., MinervaGómez-FloresM.D.,NoraMendezM.D.,Jesús Ancer-Rodríguez M.D., Joseph L. Bryant D.V.M. J Roberto Trujillo M.D., Ph.D. , Anthony A. Gaspari M.D. New insights to HIV-1-primary skin disorders. J Int AIDS Soc. 2011 Jan 24;14:5
  • Cedeno-Laurent F, Penalva de Oliveira AC, Vidal JE, Trujillo JR. Human Polyomavirus- Associated Cerebral Disorders in the Post-HAART Era. Pathology Rest Int. 2011,22,56: 24-27.
  • José E. Vidal ; Sigrid de Souza; Adelaide José Vaz; J. Roberto Trujillo; Augusto C. Penalva de Oliveira. Magnetic Resonance Contrast Enhancement and Perilesional Edema Associated to Intracranial Calcifications: A New Challenge in HIV-Infected Patients. In press.
  • Cedeno-Laurent F, Trujillo JR. Gliomas and brain lymphomas in HIV-1/AIDS patients: reflections from a 20-year follow up in Mexico and Brazil. Microbiology Research, In press.