Human health and medicine

Robin Purdy Newhouse

Robin Purdy Newhouse is a nurse scientist and dean of the Indiana University School of Nursing from 2015 to 2024, elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017.

Robin Zasio (Dr. Z) is an American licensed clinical psychologist and LCSW, the most frequent therapist on A&E's Hoarders since season 2, founder of Sacramento's Anxiety Treatment Center, and author of The Hoarder in You.

Robinow syndrome

Robinow syndrome, also called fetal face syndrome or COVESDEM syndrome (recessive form), is a rare skeletal dysplasia with mesomelic limb shortening, fetal facies, and genital hypoplasia, caused by WNT/PCP pathway genes ROR2, WNT5A, DVL1/3, FZD2, and NXN.

Robot-assisted kidney transplantation

Robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) is a minimally invasive operation in which a robotic surgical system implants a donor kidney through small ports, first performed in France in 2001.

Robot-assisted surgery

Robot-assisted surgery (RAS, robotic surgery): surgeon-controlled computer systems moving instruments through small incisions, from PUMA 560 (1985) and da Vinci (FDA 2000); not autonomous, costly, no FDA cancer indication.

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) is a minimally invasive technique in which a surgeon at a console operates on chest organs with wristed robotic instruments, mainly for lung resections.

Robot-assisted valve surgery

Robot-assisted valve surgery is heart-valve repair or replacement done through small chest incisions with a surgical robot, pioneered by Alain Carpentier in the first robotic heart operation in 1998.

Robotic cholecystectomy

Robotic cholecystectomy is the removal of the gallbladder using a robotic-assisted laparoscopic system, in which the surgeon operates from a console; it now accounts for about one-quarter of US cholecystectomies.

Robotic cystectomy

Robotic cystectomy, formally robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC), is a minimally invasive operation that removes the urinary bladder, typically for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, using a robotic system.

Robotic inguinal hernia repair

Robotic inguinal hernia repair is a minimally invasive operation in which a surgeon uses a robotic platform to place mesh in the groin's preperitoneal space.

Robotic liver resection

Robotic liver resection is a minimally invasive operation in which a surgeon removes part of the liver while controlling instruments from a robotic console, such as the da Vinci.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy is a minimally invasive operation in which a surgeon uses a robotic platform to remove the pancreatic head and duodenum, first performed by P. C. Giulianotti in 2001.

Robotic pyeloplasty

Robotic pyeloplasty is a robot-assisted laparoscopic operation that reconstructs the ureteropelvic junction to relieve urine outflow obstruction from the kidney, first reported in 2002 and standard of care by 2020.

Robotic sacrocolpopexy

Robotic sacrocolpopexy is a minimally invasive operation that uses robot-assisted laparoscopy to suspend the vaginal apex to the sacrum with mesh, repairing apical pelvic organ prolapse.

Robotic thymectomy

Robotic thymectomy is a minimally invasive operation in which a surgeon uses a robot-assisted system, typically the da Vinci platform, to remove the thymus through small chest incisions.

Robotic thyroidectomy

Robotic thyroidectomy is a surgical technique that removes all or part of the thyroid through incisions in the axilla, breast, or behind the ear, avoiding a neck scar.

Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery

Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) is a minimally invasive technique where a surgeon at a console drives wristed robotic instruments inside the chest, most often for lung resection.

Oct 20, 2026

Rocatinlimab

Rocatinlimab (AMG 451/KHK4083) is an investigational anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody by Kyowa Kirin and Amgen for atopic dermatitis; positive phase 3 ROCKET trials preceded full program discontinuation in March 2026 over malignancy concerns.

Rocbrutinib

Rocbrutinib (LP-168, Luobutini) is Lupeng Pharmaceutical's oral fourth-generation BTK inhibitor with dual covalent and noncovalent binding, approved June 2026 in China for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma after BTK inhibitor exposure, with phase 3 ROCKET-CLL versus pirtobrutinib ongoing.

Roche

Roche (F. Hoffmann-La Roche), Swiss healthcare company founded 1896 in Basel by Fritz Hoffmann; pharmaceuticals and diagnostics leader, Genentech parent, 2025 sales CHF 61.5 billion.

Rochelle Hirschhorn

Rochelle Hirschhorn is an American medical geneticist at NYU Langone who led its medical genetics division for 24 years, explained ADA deficiency, cloned the Pompe disease gene, and shared the 2013 McKusick Leadership Award.

Roconkibart

Roconkibart (JS005, 偌考奇拜单抗) is Junshi Biosciences' recombinant humanized anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody for plaque psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis; NMPA accepted its psoriasis NDA in December 2025, and Fosun Wanbang licensed Greater China rights in July 2026.

Rod cell

Rod cell: retinal photoreceptor mediating scotopic (night) vision via rhodopsin; single-photon sensitivity, outer segment of 1000–2000 disks, absent from fovea, saturates in bright light, unlike cones.

Rodhrasava (afi afi-rodrasavalodrasava)

Rodhrasava (lodhrasava, Lodhrasavam) is a classical Ayurvedic fermented asava of 29 plant drugs led by Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), dosed 12–24 ml, used for gynecological, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic indications.

Rodolfo R. Rodriguez

Rodolfo R. Rodriguez is an American bioengineer and diagnostics inventor, a National Academy of Engineering member best known for inventing the first automated blood-cell separator and cofounding Advanced Animal Diagnostics.

Rodrigo V. Guerrero

Rodrigo V. Guerrero, born Rodrigo Guerrero Velasco in 1938, is a Colombian physician and epidemiologist who treated urban violence as a public health problem as mayor of Cali, winning the first Roux Prize in 2014.

Roemheld syndrome

Roemheld syndrome, or gastrocardiac syndrome, is an unvalidated diagnosis in which gastrointestinal problems such as hiatal hernia, GERD, or gastric distension trigger cardiac symptoms like palpitations and chest pain via vagal mechanisms; not recognized in ICD-11 or DSM-5.

Rofecoxib

Rofecoxib (Vioxx), Merck's selective COX-2 inhibitor NSAID for osteoarthritis, acute pain, and migraine, approved in 1999 and withdrawn worldwide in 2004 after the APPROVe trial showed roughly doubled cardiovascular thromboembolic risk.

Roflumilast

Roflumilast (Daxas, Daliresp, Zoryve) is a selective PDE4 inhibitor; oral 500 µg daily reduces COPD exacerbations in severe chronic bronchitis, and topical 0.3% formulations treat plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis.