Yusra Zaidi, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Brian Stansfield’s lab, received the Postdoctoral Fellow
Poster Award at the 3rd Annual Savannah River Eye Meeting held March 13, 2024 for project title “Loss of
Neurofibromin facilitates pathological retinal neovascularization (RNV) via Akt-2
facilitated GLUT-1 translocation”
The Graduate School 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award
Dr. David Fulton received The Graduate School 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award during
the annual awards ceremony on April 2nd. This award honors a graduate faculty member
who has demonstrated exceptional, long-term commitment to Augusta University and The
Graduate School, and this is the highest honor that the graduate faculty may bestow.
Since joining the Vascular Biology Center in 2002, Dr. Fulton has served on 56 graduate
student thesis committees and mentored 13 students, 8 of whom have graduated, with
5 currently under his guidance.
Dr. Fulton, we are grateful for your dedication to the VBC and training future researchers.
Many congratulations!
38th Annual Graduate Research Day events held March 7 & 8, 2024.
Excellent research and presentations by all!
Post-Doctoral Oral Presentations
Qian Ma, PhD
presented “De novo nucleotide synthesis is necessary for DNA damage and repair in
atheroprone endothelial cells”
Advisor: Yuqing Huo
Sheela Nagarkoti, PhD
presented “Excess Glycolysis Limits VEGF-induced VEGFR2 activation and angiogenesis
via Cysteine oxidation of VEGFR2”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai
Yoichi Ono, MD, PhD presented “Role of the Long form Leptin Receptor (Ob-Rb) in Aldosterone Synthase (AS)
Expressing Cells in the Control of Cardiovascular Function in Female Mice”
Advisor: Eric Belin de Chantemele
Varsha Tandra, PhD
presented “Regulation of UFM1 modification from ER dynamics to cardiac homeostasis”
Advisor: Jie Li
Mai Yamamoto, PhD
presented “Novel Role of Copper Uptake Transporter CTR1 in Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion
Injury”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai
Shikha Yadav, PhD
presented “Macrophage Drp1 as a novel redox sensor driving revascularization of ischemic
muscle”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai
Yusra Zaidi, PhD
presented “Loss of Neurofibromin facilitates pathological retinal neovascularization
(RNV) via Akt-2 facilitated GLUT-1 translocation”
Advisor: Brian Stansfield
CSRA AHA Heart Ball held February 9th at Augusta Marriott Convention Center
The Heart Ball celebrates the American Heart Association’s year-round fund raising
efforts and educating the community by honoring the volunteers and patrons.