Richard Auchus, MD, PhD  We study the biochemistry of enzymes responsible for the production of steroid hormones that regulate blood pressure, including aldosterone and cortisol. We have developed mass spectrometry methods to profile these steroids and precursors in vivo and in vitro for basic and clinical studies. We are particularly interested in using these methods to improve the diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism, which account for ~8% of hypertension.

J. Brian Byrd, MD, MS  The Byrd Lab is interested in discovering new ways to diagnose cardiovascular disease and guide its treatment. Thus, key activities in the laboratory include processing human biofluids and performing a variety of types of assays to evaluate signals from those biofluids. The skills learned in the lab will inform projects students undertake in the future, whether those projects are in a cell, a mouse, or a patient. Students entering the laboratory will work hard, will learn about human physiology and pathophysiology, and will work directly on translational research at the lab bench.

Frank Davis, MD The Davis Laboratory studies the pathological mechanisms that drive aortic aneurysm development. We are interested to better understand the role of immune cell infiltration and vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction within the arterial wall during pathological aortic dilation. Our team of scientists explores this using a complement of biochemical assays, in vivo animal models, and biobank of vascular tissue specimens. Our vascular clinical team translates its findings from bench-to-bedside through ongoing clinical research trials. Ultimately, our aim is to develop effective new therapeutic modalities for the treatment of patients with aortic aneurysmal disease.

C. Alberto Figueroa, PhD,  Our laboratory focuses on methods and applications for computational modeling of hemodynamics using image-based approaches. From a methods perspective, we are developing machine learning formulations for improved geometry segmentation, formulations to study coagulation in image-based models, and methods for non-linear simulations of vessel wall-blood flow interactions. On the experimental side, we develop novel MRI techniques for tissue perfusion quantification and photoacoustic methods for in-vivo thrombus imaging. Our group also has projects that investigate the interplay between vascular stiffness and hypertension, both systemic and pulmonary.

Katherine Gallagher, MD The IECT Labs, led by Dr. Katherine Gallagher, works at the intersection of immunology, biomedical research, and cardiovascular medicine. The fields of immunotherapy and epigenetics have grown tremendously over the previous decade. Although these areas have been more well studied in cancer, they are relevant for cardiovascular disease and can be specifically targeted using nanocarriers and other technology to modulate inflammation and other pathologic processes in cardiovascular disease and to aid in tissue repair processes. Our group aims to translate our findings identifying important epigenetic pathways into therapeutic cell specific therapy for the treatment of patients with cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases.

Olesya Plazyo, Ph.D., Our lab investigates the link between autoimmune changes and cardiovascular remodeling, particularly in the context of female-specific cellular and molecular signaling and preeclampsia. We previously discovered that VGLL3, a transcription factor preferentially active in female cells, can cause lupus-like disease in mice when overexpressed in keratinocytes. We are now deciphering upstream regulators and downstream targets of VGLL3 in the context of female-specific inflammation with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic targets for treating lupus and other female biased autoimmune diseases.

William E. Rainey, PhD  Dr. William (Bill) Rainey is the Jerome Conn Professor in the Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Internal Medicine. For over 30 years, his group has researched the cellular, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms that regulate adrenal steroid hormone biosynthesis and related adrenal diseases such as Primary Aldosteronism (PA). PA is the main cause of endocrine hypertension and the most common adrenal disease.  About 1 in 30 adults have PA and the impact of inappropriate aldosterone production in the face of hypertension includes a significant increase in the potential for stroke, renal disease and cardiovascular disease. My laboratory takes a bench to bedside approach to 1) defining the molecular mechanisms that cause PA, 2) improving diagnostics to facilitate PA screening, and 3) developing the cell and mouse models that improve our understanding of PA. The Rainey lab group includes post-graduate clinician and basic scientists as well as graduate and undergraduate students. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURFs) would join ongoing research projects that are applying genomic and steroid metabolomic approaches directed at improving the understanding of PA or other adrenal diseases.

Dr. Juilee Rege Dr. Rege is a Research Investigator in the department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology within the Rainey Laboratory.  Her group's research goal is to determine the genetic causes underlying adrenal Cushing syndrome (CS), a common endocrine cause of cardiovascular morbidity. Adrenal CS is caused by autonomous cortisol production in one or both adrenal glands and affects 0.2–2 % of adults. Chronic exposure to endogenous glucocorticoid excess is associated with a cluster of complications including visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, and recurrent infections. Our research adopts both basic and translational approaches utilizing human adrenal tissue, serum and cell lines in order to: (i) define the genetic landscape of adrenal CS, particularly with regard to adrenal somatic mutations that cause cortisol excess; (ii) define serum steroid biomarkers using LC-MS/MS to facilitate adrenal CS subtyping; and (iii) develop the cell models that improve our understanding of adrenal CS.

Kanakadurga Singer, MA  There are several projects in the Singer lab all focused on gaining an understanding of the long-term impacts of diet-induced obesity on the immune system.  Immune system activation is strongly linked with risk for metabolic and non-metabolic diseases. Hence, gaining a greater understanding of how diet-induced obesity affects the immune system can provide new biomarkers for identifying at risk individuals and novel treatment approaches.

Adina Turcu, MD   Our research includes basic and translational projects that aim to facilitate personalized care for patients with hypertension. We focus on the development of novel biomarkers for simplifying the diagnosis and subtyping of primary aldosteronism and other forms of hypertension.  We use state-of-the art mass spectrometry to quantify steroids from small volume blood samples. We are also working on defining mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) modulators by using an in vitro model, that allows the detection of both direct and indirect (via cortisol, by inhibiting its local inactivation) MR agonists.