Roberta Hayes

Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Microbiology & Immunology, 1982B.S., Marquette University, Biology, 1976

Dr. Hayes earned her undergraduate degree from Marquette University and then pursued a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado. Her research career has been dedicated to understanding the immune system's role in fighting cancer. Driven by a personal commitment to combat cancer, especially brain tumors, her research centered on leveraging the immune system as a therapeutic tool against adult and pediatric brain tumors.  

At St. John's Professor Hayes teaches global health, infectious diseases and sustainability from a biologic lens. Her current research centers on scientific literacy and fostering effective scientific communication geared to engage nonscience majors and the general public and adapting her expertise to pedagogical advancements. Using multifaceted approaches, the core science requirement can be a transformative learning experience, graduating students who are scientifically literate and engaged citizens equipped with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

SCI 1000 Scientific Inquiry: Sustainability, Global Health & Infectious Diseases

SCI 1000H Scientific Inquiry: Sustainability, Global Health & Infectious Diseases

BIO 1050: Human Biology

 

Roberta Hayes, Ph.D. & Anita N. Lee, D.P.E., American Association of Colleges & Universities, Quantitative Literacy VALUE Rubric Revision, Volume Title: Setting the Stage for VALUE 2.0: Quantitative Literacy, "Chapter 4b: Lessons Learned from Examining Existing Scoring Data"; pending publication 2026

Dono-Koulouris M & Hayes RL, An Interdisciplinary Learning Community Approach to Civic Engagement Following Superstorm Sandy:  A Call to Action, East Coast Colleges Social Science Association, ECCSSA Journal 16;67-79, spring Spring 2016

RL Hayes, Workshop paere presented on Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si, "Care for our Common Earth Begins with Recognizing Climate Change as a Reality", Oct. 4, 2014 published on the SJU Vincentian action website prior to the JoVSA journal first edition release.

Hayes RL, Arbit E, Odaimi M, Pannullo S, Scheff R, Kravchinskiy D & Zaroulis C. 2001. Adoptive cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Critical Rev Oncol/Hematol 39:31-42.

Huang Y, Hayes RL, Wertheim S, Arbit E & R Scheff. 2001. Treatment of refractory malignant glioma with adoptive immunotherapy: A case report. Critical Rev Oncol/Hematol 39:17-23.

Castellanos M, Weinstein G, & Hayes RL. 2001. A rapid method to identify cytotoxic T-lymphocyte peptide epitopes from HLA-A2(+) donors. Critical Rev Oncol/Hematol 57:133-8.

Castellanos M, Maiman M, & Hayes RL. 2001. Synthetic peptides induce a cytotoxic response against human papillomavirus type-18. Gynecol Oncol 82:77-83.

Musella A, Levin M, Selker RG, Fried A, Schulder M, Williams J, Arbit E, Hayes RL & Lederman G. Virtual trials and tribulations- An internet registry of brain tumor treatments.

Newcomb EW, Cohen H, Lee SR, Bhalla SK, Bloom J, Hayes RL & DC Miller. 1998. Survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme is not influenced by altered expression of p16, p53, EGFR, MDM2 or Bcl-2 genes. Brain Pathol 8:1998.

Newcomb EW, Bhalla SK, Parrish CL, Hayes RL, Cohen H & DC Miller. 1997. Bcl-2 protein expression in astrocytomas in relation to patient survival and p53 gene status. Acta Neuropath 94:369-75.

Moscatello DK, Holgado-Madruga M, Godwin AK, Ramirez G, Gunn G, Zoltick PW, Biegel JA, Hayes RL & AJ Wong. 1995. Frequent expression of a mutant epidermal growth factor receptor in multiple human tumors. Cancer Res 55:5536-9

Hayes RL, Koslow M, Hiesiger EM, Hymes KB, Hochster HS, Moore EJ, Pierz DM, Chen DK, Budzilovich GN & J Ransohoff. 1995. Improved long-term survival following intracavitary interleukin-2 (IL-2) and lymphokine activated killer cells for adults with recurrent malignant glioma. Cancer 76: 840-52.

Allen JC & RL Hayes. 1994. Selected immunotherapy studies of the interferons and IL-2/LAK cells. In: Brain Tumors in Children: Principles of Diagnosis and Treatment, 2nd edition. Cohen ME, & PK Duffner (eds.), NY: Raven Press, Ltd., pp. 161-75.

Hiesiger EM, Hayes RL, Pierz DM & GN Budzilovich. 1993. Prognostic relevance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and c-neu/erbB2 expression in glioblastomas (GBMs). J Neuro-Oncol 16:93-104.

Hayes RL. 1992. The cellular immunotherapy of primary brain tumors. Revue Neurol 148:454-66.

Hiesiger EM, Hayes RL, Thoron L, Budzilovich GN, Pierz DM, Wise A, & J Ransohoff. 1991. Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and erb-B2 (HER 2/neu) in glioblastoma (GBM): Prognostic relevance. Develop in Oncol 66:105-7.

Hayes RL, Koslow M, Hiesiger EM, Hochster H, Hymes K, Moore E, Pierz DM, Wise A & J Ransohoff. 1991. Biologic response to intracavitary Interleukin-2/ lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells in the treatment of primary malignant brain tumors. Develop in Oncol 66:225-227.

Beller U, Chachoua A, Speyer JL, Sorich J, Dugan M, Liebes L, Hayes RL & M Beckman. 1989. Phase IB study of low-dose intraperitoneal recombinant Interleukin-2 in patients with refractory advanced ovarian cancer: Rationale and preliminary report. Gynecol Oncol 34:407-12.

Plate JMD, Lukaszewska TL, Bustamante G & RL Hayes. 1988. Cytokines involved in the generation of cytolytic effector T lymphocytes. Ann NY Acad Sci 532:149-57.

Plate JMD, McMannis JD & RL Hayes. 1985. Identification of a helper cell activation complex (HAC) expression and its relationship to Interleukin-1 function. In: The Physiologic, Metabolic, and Immunologic Actions of Interleukin-1, Alan Liss, NY pp. 339-348.

Hayes RL & HN Claman. 1983. Pretreatment with minor histocompatibility complex antigens prevents the development of functional CTL helper cell activity. J Immunol 130:56-9.

Hayes RL & HN Claman. 1982. The induction of alloreactive responses in vivo are inhibited by pre-treatment with Mls-disparate cells. J Immunol 129:232-4.

Hayes RL. 1982. Ph.D. Thesis: Pretreatment of mice in vivo with Mls-disparate minor histocompatibility antigens prevents the generation of alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Moorhead JW, Murphy JW, Harvey RP, Hayes RL & TJ Fetterhoff. 1982. Soluble factors in tolerance and contact sensitivity to 2,4-dinitrofluoro-benzene in mice. IV. Characterization of migration inhibition factor producing lymphocytes and genetic requirements for activation. Eur J Immunol 12: 431-6.

Zlotnik A, Vatter A, Hayes RL, Blumenthal E & AJ Crowle. 1982. Mouse pleural macrophages: Characterization and comparison with mouse alveolar and peritoneal macrophages. J Reticuloendothel Soc 31: 207-20.

Roberta L. Hayes, Nancy DiTunnariello and Irene J. Dabrowski. Using Persuasive Language to Foster Socio-Scientific Literacy & Civic Engagement, Problem Based Learning Workshop, University of Delaware, Newark; in-person active participant & poster presentation, Jan 3-6, 2023. 

Roberta Hayes, Invited Speaker, SENCER Regional conference held at LaGuardia Community College, Queens, NY; “Developing a Model for an Interdisciplinary SENCER-based Substance Abuse Awareness Course using Academic Service Learning.” Oral presentation, Jan 18, 2019. 

RL Hayes, IJ Dabrowski and N DiTunnariello, SENCER Regional conference held at The New School, NY, NY. “Using Persuasive Language to Foster Socio-Scientific Literacy and Civic Engagement,” Oral presentation,April 2019. 

Roberta Hayes, presentation, SJU Staten Island campus, Familial DNA: A New Technology to Catch Serial Killers or an Invasion of Privacy? March 28, 2019.  

Roberta Hayes SJC Assessment Fellows co-presentation, Center for Teaching & Learning Workshop, “How to Assess your Course Learning Objectives” April 30, 2019. 

Roberta Hayes, Interview for St John’s College News Website, “Staten Island SENCER Initiative Applies Student Learning to Solve Problems” Jan 2019. 

Roberta Hayes, SENCER Summer Institute, Santa Clara, CA, “Developing a Model for an Interdisciplinary SENCER-based Substance Abuse Awareness Course using Academic Service Learning,” Oral Presentation, Aug 2018. 

Dabrowski, IJ, and RL Hayes. SENCER Summer Institute, Santa Clara, CA, “Developing a SENCER Model Substance Abuse Awareness Course: A Campus-Community Effort Focused on Interdisciplinary Learning Strategies,” Poster Presentation, Aug 2018. 

RL Hayes, IJ Dabrowski, M. Dono-Koulouris, & R Fanuzzi. SENCER Summer Institute, Stony Brook, NY, “Civic Engagement and Collaborative Research: Addiction, Involving Students in a Multidisciplinary, Multi-Institutional Healthy Neighborhoods Project”; Oral Presentation, Aug 2017.  

Dabrowski, IJ, and RL Hayes. SENCER Summer Institute, Stony Brook, NY. “Engaging Students in the Core Curriculum through Healthy Neighborhoods Project” Poster PresentationAug 2017. 

RL Hayes, SENCER Summer Institute, Chicago, IL, “Academic Service Learning (AS-L) & SENCER Campus Nature Walk” Slide Show & Poster Presentation, Aug 2016. 

RL Hayes, and M Dono-Koulouris, ECCSSA meeting, “An Interdisciplinary Learning Community Approach to Civic Engagement Following Superstorm Sandy: A Call to Action,” presentation, March 3, 2016. 

RL Hayes, Academic Service-Learning Mini-grant presentation on Staten Island Nature Walk and Trees Count 2015, March 2016. 

RL Hayes, SENCER Summer Institute Presentation, An Interdisciplinary Learning Community Approach to Civic Engagement Following Superstorm Sandy: A Call to Action, July 30-Aug 3, 2015 and SENCER regional Presentation, NY City Tech, Oct 2015 

Hayes RLNational Science Teachers’ Association (NSTA) National Conference on Science Education, Learning, Literacy & Living, Next Generation Technology: Putting the “T” in STEM, San Antonio, TX; Developing E-portfolios for Core Concept Building for Non-Science Majors & Non-Analytic Learners”, Workshop Presentation, April 11, 2013. 

Hayes RL, AAC&U Next Generation STEM Learning: Investigate, Innovate, Inspire, Kansas City, MO, “Developing E-portfolios for Core Concept Building for Non-Science Majors & Non-Analytic Learners”, Workshop Presentation, November 2012. 

Hayes RL, Communities & Campuses as Equitable Partners? Imagining America National Conference NY, NY, “Academic Service & Learned Empathy,” Poster, October 2012. 

Hayes RL, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning, POGIL, Northeast National Workshop, Hamden CT, “Characterization & Categorizing of Buttons as a means to Assess the Concept of Species Classification in Biology,” Poster, July 2012.

Hayes RL, Lazaro L, Odaimi M, Scheff R, & Burton J. Immunologic monitoring of peripheral blood changes in patients with stage IV malignant melanoma or renal cell cancer treated with sequential recombinant human GM-CSF (Leukine®) Interleukin-2 (IL-2, Proleukin®) and PEG-Interferon α2b (PEG-IFN, PEG-Intron®) on a Phase I/II clinical trial. Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, 2003

Hayes RL, Serventi J, Odaimi M, Scheff R, Zaroulis CG, Silverman P, Grosman I, Lederman G, & Pannullo S. Synergistic efficacy of sequential fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery plus paclitaxel (FSRS+T) and adoptive cellular immune therapy (ITX) using interleukin-2 and activated killer cells (LAK). Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, 2003

Hayes RL, Pannullo S, Wertheim S, Raden M, Grosman I, Silverman P, & Lederman G. Synergistic efficacy of sequential fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (FSR) plus paclitaxel and adoptive immune therapy (IT) for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (RGM). Neuro-Oncol 4:S44, 2002

Hayes RL, Pannullo S, Serventi J, Silverman P, Grosman I, & Lederman G. Synergistic efficacy of sequential fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery plus paclitaxel and adoptive cellular immune therapy. AANS Immunotherapy Task Force, Chicago, IL April 2002

Huang Y, Hayes RL, Wertheim S, Scheff R, & Arbit E. Treatment of refractory recurrent malignant glioma with adoptive cellular immunotherapy. American College of Physicians National Competition, October 1999, Amer Soc of Internal Med, 2000

Huang Y, Hayes RL, Wertheim S, Scheff R, & Arbit E. Treatment of refractory recurrent malignant glioma with adoptive cellular immunotherapy. American College of Physicians Local Competition, November 1999. 2000. Selected for poster presentation at the Associates Meeting Downstate Competition, April 1, 2000, New York City, NY [First place winner Research category]

Huang Y, Hayes R, & Castellanos M. Effects of Interferon-α, β, γ and 13-cis-retinoic acid on the growth and immunomodulation of human cervical carcinoma cells: Implication for cervical cancer immunotherapy. Poster presentation, American College of Physicians National Competition, October 1999. Poster presentation at the ACP Associates Competition, April 2000, Philadelphia, PA

Huang Y, Hayes R, & Castellanos M. Effects of Interferon-α, β, γ and 13-cis retinoic acid on the growth and immunomodulation of human cervical carcinoma cells: Implication for cervical cancer immunotherapy. Poster presentation, American College of Physicians Local Competition, Nov 1999.

Huang Y, Hayes RL, Wertheim S, Arbit E, & R Scheff. Treatment of refractory malignant glioma with adoptive immunotherapy: A case report. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy, “Cell-based Therapies” session, March 2, 2000, Princeton, NJ.

Huang Y, Hayes R, & Castellanos M. Effects of Interferon-α, β, γ and 13-cis-retinoic acid on the growth and immunomodulation of human cervical carcinoma cells: Implication for cervical cancer immunotherapy. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy, “Vaccines” session, March 2, 2000, Princeton, NJ.

Huang Y, Hayes R, & Castellanos M. Effects of Interferon-α, β, γ and 13-cis-retinoic acid on the growth and immunomodulation of human cervical carcinoma cells: Implication for cervical cancer immunotherapy. Poster presentation Annual meeting Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, February 2000, San Diego, CA.

Huang Y, Castellanos M, & Hayes RL. Human papillomavirus E5 protein is a potential target for a prophylactic peptide vaccine against cervical cancer. Poster presentation Annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) February 2000, San Diego, CA.

Huang Y, Castellanos M, & Hayes RL. Human papillomavirus E5 protein is a potential target for a prophylactic peptide vaccine against cervical cancer. Poster presentation, American College of Physicians Local Competition, November 1999.

Huang Y, Castellanos M, & Hayes RL. Human papillomavirus E5 protein is a potential target for a prophylactic peptide vaccine against cervical cancer. Poster American College of Physicians National Competition, October 1999. Selected for presentation at the ACP Associates Competition, April 2000, Philadelphia, PA

Huang Y, Castellanos M, & Hayes RL. Human papillomavirus E5 protein is a potential target for a prophylactic peptide vaccine against cervical cancer. Poster presentation, International Conference on Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy, “Vaccines” session, March 2, 2000, Princeton NJ.

Castellanos M, Maiman M, & Hayes R. Cervical cancer vaccine: Generation of tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by stimulation with human papilloma virus (HPV) type 18 E6 and E7 peptides. American College of Physicians National Competition, October 1998. Selected for poster presentation at the ACP Associates Competition, April 1999, New Orleans, LA, Amer Soc of Internal Med, 1999

Castellanos M, Maiman M, & Hayes R. Cervical cancer vaccine: Generation of tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by stimulation with human papilloma virus (HPV) type 18 E6 and E7 peptides. American College of Physicians Local Competition, November 1998. Selected for poster presentation at the Associates Meeting Downstate Competition, May 15 1999, New York City, NY [First place winner Research category]

Castellanos M, Maiman M, & Hayes RL. In vitro sensitization to human papillomavirus type 18 peptides: Induction of specific cytotoxic cells. J Immunother 22:456, 1999 (Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of Biological Therapy, Cambridge MA October 27-30, 1999).

Castellanos M, Hayes RL, & Maiman M. Cervical cancer vaccine: Generation of HPV-18 specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) Soc Gynecol-Oncol, 1999, Poster presentation Annual meeting Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) February 1999, San Francisco, CA.

Castellanos M, Maiman M, & Hayes RL. Cervical cancer vaccine: Generation of tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by stimulation with human papillomavirus (HPV) type 18 E6 and E7 peptides, Amer College of Physicians, Amer Soc of Internal Med, 1999

Hayes RL, Levin M, Musella A, Selker RG, Fried A, Schulder M, Williams J, Arbit E, & Lederman GS. Virtual trials: An internet-based brain tumor registry. Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res 40:39-40, 1999

Castellanos M, & Hayes RL. Identification of peptides encoded by human papillomavirus (HPV) type 18 E6 and E7 which are potential cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes. Cancer Vaccine Week, 1998, P1-02.

Hayes RL & L Magnotti. Expression of EGF-receptor family (erbB) homologues in malignant gliomas, Soc Neuro-oncol, 1998

Newcomb EW, Hayes RL, Cohen H & DC Miller. Genetic alterations in glioblastoma subtypes and patient survival. 12th International Conference on Brain Tumor Research and Therapy, 1997

Hayes RL, Moore E, Pierz DM & H Makouli. In situ production of interleukin-12 (IL-12), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) following immunotherapy for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, 1995

Hayes RL, Koslow M, Hiesiger EM, Hymes KB, Hochster HS, Moore EJ, Pierz DM, Makouli E & J Ransohoff. Regional immunotherapy for glioblastoma: Long-term survival, eosinophilia, & in situ production of cytokines. 9th Interntl Congress Immunol, 1995

Hayes RL, Koslow M, Hiesiger EM, Hochster H, Hymes KB, Chen D, Moore E, Pierz DM & J Ransohoff. Regional immunotherapy for malignant brain tumors. Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res 35:211, 1994.

Hayes RL, Moore EM, Pierz DM, Chen D, DaRosso R, Nirenberg A & JC Allen. Interleukin-2 (IL-2)-inducible lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity arising in blood following IL-2 plus LAK therapy into the CSF compartment. Proc Amer Soc Clin Oncol 12:296, 1993.

Hayes RL, Hiesiger EM, Pierz DM & M Koslow. Peripheral blood (PBL) phenotype changes induced by intracranial Interleukin-2 plus lymphokine-activated killer cell immunotherapy (IL-2/ LAK) in patients with malignant gliomas during therapeutic response. Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res 34: A2804, 1993.

Hiesiger EM, Hayes RL, Budzilovich GN, Pierz DM & J Ransohoff. ErbB2 (HER2/neu) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) expression are prognostic factors in glioblastoma (GBM). Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res 33:254, 1992

Hayes RL, & EM Hiesiger. Radiolabelling of human glioma xenografts in athymic nude mice in vivo with epidermal growth factor (125-I-EGF). Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res 30:A116, 1989.