Theme Leaders
Current Clinical Project(s)
Not Applicable
Current Basic Research Project(s)
The Cardiovascular Sciences laboratories operate the experimental, surgical and instrumentation core which provides development of disease models and or calibrated stress in surviving mice as well as techniques for serial following of cardiovascular function.
The investigators in cardiovascular sciences focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cardiac injury and repair. Our current projects deal primarily with mesenchymal plasticity as it effects various populations of fibroblasts in both scar formation and adverse remodeling. The same technology is being used to extend these observations to the kidney in collaboration with members of the Renal Division. The strategy and technology utilized in the laboratory are primarily focused on exposing immunologic mechanisms and our work has now extended into examining inflammatory-based fibrotic reactions in other organs as well. Our studies indicate that inflammation-based fibrosis involves an interaction between myeloid-derived fibroblasts and fibroblasts arising from endogenous mesenchymal stem cells in the heart. The myeloid fibroblasts are induced by dysregulation of chemokine and cytokine mechanisms associated with chronic inflammation; the mesenchymal stem cell derived fibroblasts arise from functional abnormalities of TGFb signaling. Recent studies suggest both mechanisms exist in the chronic inflammation associated with the aging heart as well as defects in cardiac repair in the aging heart.
Research Faculty
David Aguilar, M.D. - Congestive heart failure, diabetes, metabolic syndrome
Marie Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D. - Chagas disease, vaccine development
Robert Bryan, Ph.D. - Cerebrovascular circulation, EDHF in cerebral arteries, traumatic brain injury, K channels
William Craigen, M.D. - Genetic disorders, metabolic disorders, mitochondrial function
Moreshwar Desai, M.D. - Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, pediatric cardiomyopathy, bile acids
Anita Deswal, M.D., MPH - Heart failure Mary Dickinson, Ph.D. Role of fluid-derived mechanical forces in vascular remodeling and heart morphogenesis
Tony Eissa, M.D. - Autophagy, innate immunity, cellular regulation of misfolded proteins
Mike Heffernan, Ph.D. - Adjuvants/delivery systems for vaccines against tropical diseases including Chagas disease
Jeffrey Jacot, Ph.D. - Regenerative therapies for congenital heart disease
Choel Kim, Ph.D. - Protein kinase A, crystallography
Kenneth Mattox, M.D. - Cardiothoracic surgery; trauma
Joel Morrisett, Ph.D. - Carotid atherosclerosis, MRI and microimaging
Vijay Nambi, M.D. - Peripheral arterial disease, vascular imaging, cardiac prevention
Lavannya Pandit, M.D. - Pulmonary hypertension
Frank Peacock, M.D. - Acute myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, clinical trials
Daniel Penny, M.D., Ph.D., MHA - Cardiovascular hemodynamics in children with congenital heart disease
Laura Petersen, M.D., MPH - Outcomes studies for CV diseases
Corey Reynolds, Ph.D. - Animal models of heart disease, CV imaging
Kevin Roy, M.D. - Pediatric critical care
Rolando Rumbaut, M.D., Ph.D. - Microvascular thrombosis, leukocyte trafficking
Zeenat Safdar, M.D. - Pulmonary hypertension
George Taffet, M.D. - Age-related changes in heart and vasculature, calcium handling, diastolic heart failure
JoAnn Trial, Ph.D. - Origins of fibroblasts in cardiac injury healing
Jesus Vallejo, M.D. - TLR3/TLR4 in acute myocarditis, signal transduction pathways
Salim Virani, M.D., Ph.D. - Cardiac prevention, cholesterol management
Matthew Wall, M.D. - Cardiothoracic surgery; trauma
Xander Wehrens, M.D., Ph.D. - Atrial fibrillation, calcium handling, inherited arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies, heart failure
