Research Programs

Michael Autieri, PhD  

The long-term focus of our research program is the identification and characterization of proteins and pathways which play a role in regulation of vascular inflammation, with a current focus on the role of endogenous anti-inflammatory cytokines in this process. We have two distinct but related areas of investigation: inhibition of vascular occlusive diseases such as atherosclerosis, restenosis and allograft vasculopathy; and promotion of angiogenesis to treat peripheral vascular disease. Currently, we are focusing on an endogenous anti-inflammatory cytokine termed IL-19 which: regulates macrophage polarity, macrophage and smooth muscle cell cholesterol homeostasis, smooth muscle and endothelial cell proliferation, and decreases inflammatory mRNA stability, suggesting that this cytokine may represent a therapeutic modality to treat vascular inflammatory diseases.

Satoru Eguchi, MD, PhD

The Eguchi lab studies mechanisms of cardiovascular disease using several distinct model systems.  We infuse mice with angiotensin II to induce hypertension associated with organ damage including cardiac hypertrophy, vascular hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis and vascular fibrosis, and abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice.  In addition, we study the signal transduction mechanism of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cell pathophysiology.  Our current research subjects include angiotensin II receptor, EGF receptor signal transduction, ER stress, mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy.

Joon Park, PhD

My research has been focused on determining the molecular basis of exercise effects in vascular disease and function. Current research projects focus on answering such questions as: How can the physiological changes during exercise be defined at the cellular level? How do cells respond to the stimulus? What mediates cellular responses to the stimulus? And, how do cells adapt to the stimulus when it persists repeatedly and chronically?  Specifically, 1. Role of p53 in mitochondrial remodeling in response to fluid shear stress in vascular endothelium; 2. The signaling mechanism of angiotensin II-induced hypertensive vascular remodeling; 3. Identifying a novel cellular biomarker produced by cerebrovascular endothelium in response to mild head impact in human; 4. Role of mitochondrial dynamic events on myogenic differentiation

Fabio Recchia, PhD

My laboratory is studying, in large animal models, the role of factors released by heart and skeletal muscle and named, respectively, “cardiokines” and “myokines”,  as modulators of cardiac function and metabolism under physiological and pathological conditions. A second line of experimental research is on new pharmacological and biological therapies for the treatment of heart failure and atrial fibrillation.   

Victor Rizzo, PhD

The long-range goal of the Rizzo lab is to discover the molecular signaling mechanisms that contribute to endothelial dysfunction and associated cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and aneurysm formation. Past studies demonstrate the importance of caveolae organelles in regulating  endothelial cell function. Our research program offers the opportunity to evaluate the physiologic and pathophysiologic roles of endothelial caveolae and caveolin in signaling and transport using modern techniques in microscopy, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular genetic and unique in vivo and in vitro methodological approaches to attenuate vascular disease initiation and/or progression. 

Abdelkarim Sabri, PhD

Our lab studies the molecular and cellular basis of heart failure, with a particular emphasis on the role of inflammatory mediators and innate immunity in disease progression in the failing heart. Our team examines how inflammatory mediators and innate immunity leads to pathological cardiomyocyte growth or programmed cell death and contributes to diseases such as cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Our long term goals are to provide novel insights about the molecular pathways that govern cardiac myocyte growth and function and to use this information to devise pharmacologic and genetic therapies for heart diseases in humans. Specifically: inflammatory serine proteases and cardiac repair, protease activated receptors in heart disease and 3-G protein coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinase crosstalk in adaptive and maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy.

Rosario Scalia, MD, PhD

• Project 1: We study the role of the microcirculation in the adipose tissue inflammation of the overweight/obese organism to: a) understand how nutrients and excessive calorie intake activates inflammatory signaling cascades in adipose tissue, and b) to find therapeutic targets to averts the metabolic and cardiovascular complications of obesity. 
• Project 2: Regulation of endothelial function by Calpain. Specifically, we study the impact of calpaan activation on eNOS and endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression levels and functions. We have established the calpain system as an important modulator of endothelial function in insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. 
• Project 3: We are interested in exploring the main signaling pathways through which physiological aging impairs key function of the vascular endothelium. The overall goal of this research is to find therapeutic targets to offset or delay cardiovascular disease and organ dysfunction in the aging organism.

Xiao-Feng Yang, MD, PhD

• Vascular immunology and atherosclerosis: Dr. Yang’s laboratory uses microarray transcriptome, next generation DNA sequencing including RNA-Seq, T cell epitope mapping, SEREX and other biochemical, immunological approaches and transgene/gene knock-out disease models in order to determine cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as hyperlipidemia-, hyperglycemia-, uremia-, endotoxemia, impact the development/progression of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.
• Immunometabolism: Dr. Yang’s laboratory also aims to study how biochemical metabolites in CVD-related pathologies act as either danger signals or homeostatic signals to regulate antigen processing/presentation, vascular immune responses and atherosclerosis.
• Epigenetic pathology: Dr. Yang’s laboratory also studies how CVD risk factors regulate histone modification process and gene expressions in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.