Benard Ogola - Research & Publications

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Research Interests

Dr. Ogola's laboratory’s main interest is to understand the role of sex chromosomes (XX and XY) in contributing to cardiovascular disease, including arterial stiffening. We are particularly interested in determining specific X-linked genes contributing to arterial stiffening, vascular malformation, and maladaptation.

Additionally, we are interested in long non-coding RNA (xist) in maintaining X chromosome inactivation in female vascular cells. We aim to establish sex differences in cardiovascular disease, understand the underlying mechanisms, and identify druggable targets. We work closely with the Vascular Biology Center and external collaborators. Our work involves transgenic rodents, ex vivo vascular assessments, and tissue culture models.

 

 

 

Research Projects

Mouse drawing and text. Title: "Male (M) XX and XY Mice", visual image of mouse with x on body,arrow points down to "arrow points up Kdm6a, Col1a1, and Collagen; XXM" arrow points down to "downward arrow VSMC Contractile Genes; XXM" arrow down to "Upward arrow; leftward stress-strain curve shift XXM and XYM" arrow pointing down to "arrow up; arterial stiffening; XXM and XYM"Title: Four core Genotype Mouse Model showing four mice. XY-SRY, XX-SRY, XY- and XX. All mice were tested. The methods explain the process utilizing one of the genotypes. 1. Fecal collection. 2. Illumina MiSeq Sytem Microbial Analysis. 3. Gut Microbial identification 4. Growth of Akkermansia Munciniphila 5. A steroid analysis is also performed. (plasma sample to ESI-LC/MS to Steroid analysis. Key result: Akkermansia is an Estrogen-responsive microbiota.

 

image 1: DAPI image 2: XIST image 3: MERGED

 

    

Publications

 

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