Overview | History | Current Students | Student Awards | Curriculum | Admission Requirements

Current Students

WonMo Ahn

Mentor: Gabor Csanyi, PhD

Research Project: SARS-CoV-2 spike protein stimulates macropinocytosis in murine and human macrophages

wahn@augusta.edu

Suhib Alhusban

Mentor: Brian Annex, MD

Research Project: Hexosamine Biosynthesis Pathway Activation by Glucosamine is Sufficient for Therapeutic Angiogenesis in PAD

salhusban@augusta.edu

Candee Barris

Mentor: Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD

Research Project: Origin of Sex Differences in Mechanism of Obesity-associated Hypertension

cbarris@augusta.edu

Zsuzsanna Bordan

Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

Research Project: PDZ-Binding Kinase, a Novel Regulator of Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

zbordan@augusta.edu

Zach Brown

Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

Research Project: A viral approach to modeling pulmonary hypertension

zabrown@augusta.edu 

Chang Min Lee

Mentor: Jie Li, MD, PhD

clee8@augusta.edu

Jaser Doja

Mentor: Joe Miano, PhD

Research Project: The Transcriptional Regulation and Activity of Myocardin

jdoja@augusta.edu

Steve Haigh

Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

Research Project: Pulmonary Arterial hypertension, Cell Death, & Galectin 3

shaigh@augusta.edu

Beryl Khakina

Mentor: Eric Belin de Chantemele


bkhakina@augusta.edu

David Kim

Mentor: Neal Weintraub, MD

Research Project: Identification of human-specific novel long non-coding RNA in neointima formation

skim1@augusta.edu

Taylor Kress

Mentor: Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD

Research focus: The Role of Tcell Derived HIV Proteins in the Development of Endothelial Dysfunction and Hypertension

tkress@augusta.edu

Ishara M.G. Menik

Mentor: Eric Belin de Chantemele

imenikhitihamimu@augusta.edu

Cody Rosewater

Mentor: David Stepp, PhD

Research Project: Deletion of myostatin alters estrogen metabolism in the skeletal muscle and visceral white adipose in obese mice

 cbridgewater@augusta.edu 

Hunter Sellers

Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

Research Project: A Model of Sustained Hyperphagia and Obesity in Mice using a Brain Targeting Adeno Associated Virus

hsellers@augusta.edu

Mitchell Shivers

Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

Research Project: A Model of Sustained Hypertension Using Adeno Associated Viruses

 mishivers@augusta.edu 

Andrew Speese

Mentor: David Stepp, PhD

Research Project: A Model of Sustained Hyperphagia and Obesity in Mice using a Brain Targeting Adeno Associated Virus

aspeese@augusta.edu

Josue Zambrano-Carrasco

Mentor: Huabo Su, PhD

Research Project: An indispensable role of RBX1 in cardiac development

 jzambranocarras@augusta.edu 

 

Alumni

2022-2004

Brandee Goo

Degree: PhD 2023, MD current

Advisor: Neal Weintraub, MD

Dissertation: The Role of Histone Deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) in Adipose Tissue Dysfunction in Obesity and Aging

 bgoo@augusta.edu 

Rebekah Tritz

Degree: PhD 2022

Advisor: Brian Stansfield, MD

Dissertation: Leveraging the Bioenergetic Profile in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

 rtritz@augusta.edu 

Kareem Abdelsaid

Mentor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai/Tohru Fukai, MD

Research Project: SARS-CoV-2 spike protein stimulates macropinocytosis in murine and human macrophages

wahn@augusta.edu

Caleb Padgett

Degree: PhD 2022/ MD Current

Advisor: David Stepp, PhD

Dissertation: The Roles of Circadian Disruption and Reactive Oxygen Species Overproduction in the Development of Obesity-Associated Cardiovascular Disease

 capadgett@augusta.edu 

Tyler Benson

Degree: PhD 2021

Advisor: Dr. Neal Weintraub

Dissertation:

Alec Davila

Degree: MD/PhD 2021

Advisor: Dr. Zsolt Bagi

Dissertation: Microvascular dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

 

Hyiping Lin

Degree: PhD 2020

Advisor: Dr. Gabor Csanyi

Dissertation: Cell drinking: a closer look at how macropinocytosis drives cholesterol uptake in atherosclerotic vessels

 

Xueyi (Shirley) Li

Degree: PhD 2019

Advisor: Dr. David Fulton

Dissertation: Dissecting the Roles of Galectin-3 in pulmonary hypertension

Aluya Oseghale

Degree: PhD 2019

Advisor: Drs. Julia Brittain & Betty Pace

Dissertation: Therapeutic reactivation of fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease: development of a novel prodrug AN-233

Huijuan (Emily) Dou

Degree: PhD 2017

Advisor: Dr. Zsolt Bagi

Dissertation: ADAM17 and age-related vascular dysfunction

Esraa Shosha

Degree: PhD 2017

Advisor: Dr. Ruth Caldwel

Dissertation: Neurovascular degeneration following retinal ischemia reperfusion injury: Role of Arginase 2

Jian Peng Teoh

Degree: PhD 2017

Advisor: Dr. Il-man Kim

Dissertation: Beta-adrenergic receptor/Beta-arrestin-mediated microRNA maturation regulatory network: A new player in cardioprotective signaling

Yusi Wang

Degree: PhD 2015

Advisor: Dr. David Fulton

Dissertation: Dissecting the Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species in Cardiovascular Disease

Christine Gross

Degree: PhD 2014

Advisor: Dr. Steve Black

Dissertation: The role of the transcription factor, Sox18, in pulmonary endothelial barrier function

Shuiqing Qiu

Degree: PhD 2014

Advisor: Dr. David Stepp

Dissertation: Increasing muscle mass by deletion of myostatin improves metabolic and vascular function in obese (db/db) mice

Jutamas Suwanpradid

Degree: PhD 2014

Advisor: Dr. Ruth Caldwell

Dissertation: Roles of arginase in oxygen-induced retinopathy

Chintan Patel

Degree: PhD 2014

Advisor: Dr. Ruth Caldwell

Dissertation: Activation of arginase and the endothelin system in models of ischemic retinopathy

Ashlee Tipton

Degree: PhD 2014

Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Sullivan

Dissertation: Blood pressure impacts the renal T cell profile of male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats

 

Krystal Brinson

Degree: PhD 2013

Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Sullivan

Dissertation: Sex differences in renal inner medullary nitric oxide synthase regulation and nitric oxide synthase contribution to blood pressure control in hypertension

Shawn Elms

Degree: PhD 2013

Advisor: Dr. Ruth Caldwell

Dissertation: Insights Into the Arginine Paradox and the Role of Arginase in Diabetic Retinopathy

 

Wararat Kittikulsuth

Degree: PhD 2012

Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Pollock

Dissertation: Regulation of renal medullary endothelin B receptor function by angiotensin II: evidence of sex differences

Jin Qian

Degree: PhD 2012

Advisor: Dr. David Fulton

Dissertation: Physiological consequences of ENOS subcellular targeting

Frank Spradley

Degree: PhD 2012

Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Pollock

Dissertation: Mechanisms of Diet-Induced Hypertension and Vascular Disease Risk in Dahl Rats

 

Saurabh Aggarwal

Degree: PhD 2011

Advisor: Dr. Steve Black

Dissertation: Vascular dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension: Role of protein kinase G-1α nitration

Deepesh Pandey

Degree: PhD 2011

Advisor: Dr. David Fulton

Dissertation: Post-translational regulation of NADPH oxidase 5 (Nox5) mediated via phosphorylation and SUMOylation

Jinling Yang

Degree: PhD 2011

Advisor: Dr. Ruth Caldwell

Dissertation: Signaling Mechanism of Blood-Retinal Barrier Regulation: Role of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

 

Mohammed (Irfan) Ali

Degree: PhD 2010

Advisor: Dr. David Stepp

Dissertation: Peripheral insulin resistance mediates microvascular dysfunction in obese mice via increased NAD(P)H oxidase isoform one mediated superoxide production

Alexis Simpkins

Degree: MD/PhD 2010

Advisor: Dr. Edward Inscho

Dissertation: Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition attenuates vascular remodeling and is protective against cerebral ischemia

 

Jan Foster

Degree: PhD 2009

Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Pollock

Dissertation: Regulation and actions of nitric oxide in the renal medullary thick ascending limb during type 1 diabetes mellitus

 

Matthew Socha

Degree: PhD 2008

Advisor: Dr. Edward Inscho

Dissertation: SPARC mediates renal injury in angiotensin II-induced hypertensive mouse models

Rodney Littlejohn

Degree: PhD 2008/ MD 2022

Advisor: Dr. Huabo Su

Dissertation: The Role of Neddylation in Early Cardiac Development

Joseph Poole

Degree: MD/PhD 2008

Advisor: Dr. Frank Treiber

Dissertation: Impact of genetic predisposition and environmental stress on measures of preclinical essential hypertension

Maninder (Marlina) Manhiani

Degree: PhD 2008

Advisor: Dr. Edward Inscho

Dissertation: The role of cytochrome P450 epoxygenase enzymes in renal injury and inflammation with salt sensitive hypertension

Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron

Degree: PhD 2008

Advisor: Dr. Mario Marrero

Dissertation: The role of PTP-1B in vascular insulin resistance

 

Vanessa Bundy

Degree: PhD 2007 (MD 2011)

Advisor: Dr. Paule Barbeau

Dissertation: From adipokines to atherosclerosis: The role of adipose tissue in inflammation and etiology of vascular disease

Kyu Tae Kang

Degree: PhD 2007

Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Pollock

Dissertation: Novel nitric oxide synthase-dependent mechanism of vasorelaxation in small arteries from hypertensive rats

Annura Chatterjee

Degree: PhD 2007

Advisor: Dr. John Catravas

Dissertation: Hsp-90 inhibitors in sepsis and sepsis-induced acute lung injury

 

Chunying Li

Degree: PhD 2006

Advisor: Dr. Richard Venema

Dissertation: Enos regulation by physophorylation and protein-protein interactions

 

Elizabeth (Dabbs) Loomis

Degree: PhD 2004

Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Pollock

Dissertation: Mechanisms of ET-1-mediated oxygen radical production in the rat aorta

Daniel Platt

Degree: PhD 2004

Advisor: Dr. Ruth Caldwell

Dissertation: Molecular mechanisms of high glucose -induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression in retinal endothelial cells