VBC News

American Heart Association Cardio-Oncology Strategically Focused Research Network

A prestigious group gathered on our campus for the American Heart Association Cardio-Oncology Strategically Focused Research Network Semiannual Meeting. It was last summer when the AHA announced this new network on disparities in cardio-oncology that is pursuing the intersection of heart disease and cancer, common conditions that share common risks like obesity and chronic inflammation, with the goal of better understanding the dynamics and how to better identify and address this intersection which disproportionately affects underrepresented populations. MCG, Boston University School of Medicine, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Pennsylvania are the institutions selected for this important initiative.

CSRA AHA Heart Ball 2022

In more than 150 communities across the country, Heart Ball supporters unite with a shared purpose to raise the critical funds we need to ensure our work continues. Throughout our campaign we celebrate our milestones, we thank our sponsors and we honor our heroes. We come together to achieve something bigger than ourselves. 

Kudos Experimental Biology 2022 Awardees

• APS Cardiovascular Section Clinical Science Young Investigator Award – Reem Atawia
• APS Cardiovascular Section Outstanding Postdoctoral Trainee Finalist – Benard Ogola
• APS Cardiovascular Section Research Recognition Award – Caleb Padgett

Congratulations Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemèle!

Dr. Belin de Chantemele received the 2021 AURI Outstanding Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award.

February 4, 2022 is the Annual American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Day to increase women’s heart health awareness. Most heart disease and stroke deaths are preventable, cardiovascular diseases continue to be a woman’s greatest health threat.

Congratulations Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemèle!

Dr. Belin de Chantemèle is to Present the Henry Pickering Bowditch Award Lecture during the Experimental Biology 2021 Conference held April 27-30.

This award honors early-career achievement in physiology and is given to an APS member younger than 42 or who is fewer than eight years from the start of the first faculty or staff research scientist position beyond postdoctoral training. Dr. Belin de Chantemèle’s lecture is Obesity-Associate Cardiovascular Disease: The exposed Secret of the Sexes.

(left to right) Qiuhua Yang, Taylor Kress, Caleb Padgett, Candee Barris, Reem Atawia & Robert Batori

Dr. David Stepp & Caleb Padgett

36th Annual Graduate Research Day

Congratulations to Rudolf Lucas!

Rudolf Lucas, PhD received an Intramural Grants Program (IGP) award for his project entitled: Restoration of ENaC Blunts SARS-CoV2S Protein-Induced Lung Endothelial Dysfunction

Congratulations to Dr. Lucas and his team!

Congrats to Vascular Biology PhD candidate, Caleb Padgett

Congratulations to Dr. Yuqing Huo!

Dr. Huo was awarded the 2020 AURI Distinguished Researcher Award.

Research interests

• Examination of metabolic effect on leukocyte recruitment and activation
• fibroblast activation
• activation and proliferation of vascular cells in animal models of atherosclerosis
• thrombosis
• diabetes/obesity
• pulmonary hypertension
• retinopathy
• cardiac hypertrophy
• renal fibrosis

Congratulations!

Ruth B. Caldwell, PhD received the 2020 AURI Research Lifetime Achievement Award.

Research Interests

• Mechanisms that control microvascular growth and permeability barrier function
• Mechanisms that regulate the expression and signal transduction functions of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and PEDF (pigment epithelial derived factor).

Congratulations to MCG Faculty Senate Awardees, Drs. Yuqing Huo & David Stepp!

Yuqing Huo, MD, PhD, Professor of Cellular Biology and Anatomy received the 2020 Basic Science Research Award

David Stepp, PhD, Professor of Physiology received the Outstanding Faculty Award

Congratulations!

Dr. Reem Atawia, Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Belin de Chantemele’s lab has been awarded a one year Postdoctoral Fellowship from the American Physiological Society (APS)

“Perivascular Adipose Tissue Regulates Endothelial Function And Glucose Disposal Via Leptin-Control Of the endothelial PFKFB3-Nox1 pathway”

Congratulations!

Jie Li, PhD
Assistant Professor

Jr Faculty Award 1st Place Oral Presentation

"Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (Ufm1), a small protein modifier with big impact on pathological cardiac remodeling"

Academy of Cardiovascular Research Excellence (ACRE)
Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (APS)
Research Symposium 2020

Congratulations!

Eric Belin de Chantmele, PhD
Associate Professor

RO1 Score of 2 percentile!!

"Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (Ufm1), a small protein modifier with big impact on pathological cardiac remodeling"

AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Begins January 2020

Robert Batori, PhD
Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

"Novel roles of PFKFB3 in mediating nitric oxide syntheses and endothelial dysfunction in obesity" 

ATVB Travel Award for Basic Science Abstracts Oral Presentation

2019 AHA Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia.

Huiping Lin
Mentor:  Gábor Csányi, PhD

"Receptor-independent Ldl Macropinocytosis By Macrophages Contributes To The Pathogenesis Of Atherosclerosis"

Top score in Best Poster Award at AHA 2019

Archita Das
Mentors: Drs. Masuko and Tohru Fukai

“Cu Importer CTR1 is a Redox Sensor That Promotes VEGFR2 Signaling and Angiogenesis”. 

Intramural Grants Program Award (IGP)

The purpose of the IGP is to assist Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University faculty members in competing successfully for major research funding from external sponsors. This award is administered through the Division of Sponsored Program Administration on behalf of the Office of Vice President for Research.

After a rigorous application review, this year VBC has racked up the awards!

Huabo Su
"Novel Post-Translational Mechanisms Regulating Mitochondrial Homeostasis in the Adult Heart."

Eric Belin de Chantemele, Jennifer Sullivan & Wendy Bollag
"The Role of Aldosterone in High Fat Diet-Induced Hypertension in Males and Females.

Neal Weintraub & Lufei Young
"Investigator-Initiated Pilot Study to Evaluate Preclinical Effects of Nicotinamide Riboside in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm."

Brian Stansfield Featured on WJBF

Watch the News Report on WJBF

2019 Stephanie Watts Career Development Award Finalist

Thiago Bruder do Nascimento, PhD 

As a finalist, Dr. Bruder do Nascimento will be attending the AHA Hypertension 2019 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, LA in September to compete for this coveted award. The Stephanie Watts Career Development Award was established to honor the advocacy work of Dr. Stephanie Watts, an active member of the Council on Hypertension, who has always advocated for the needs of the many trainees associated with the Council.

NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99)

Bhupesh Singla, PhD, 
Postdoctoral Fellow 
Lab: Gabor Csanyi, PhD

Submission Title: Regulation of Lymphangiogenesis by Thrombospondin 1

The purpose of this program is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers or clinician-scientists from mentored research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions, and to provide independent NIH research support during the transition that will help these individuals launch competitive, independent research careers.

VBC 2019 PHD Awardees

Alec Davila, MD/PhD
Thesis Defense “Microvascular dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction”
Mentor, Zolt Bag, PhD

Aluya Oseghale, PhD
Thesis defense “Therapeutic reactivation of fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease: development of a novel prodrug AN-233”
Mentor, Betty Pace, PhD

Xueyi “Shirley” Li, PhD
Thesis defense “Dissecting the Roles of Galectin-3 in pulmonary hypertension”
Mentor, David Fulton, PhD

Vascular Biology Students Have Major Showing at Graduate Research Day
Awards Ceremony

(Top row L-R) 
Esraa Sosha won 2nd prize in the "postdoctoral poster presentations".
Jessica Faulkner won 2nd prize in the "postdoctoral oral presentations".
Aluya Oseghale won the "Award for Excellence in Research" – Vascular Biology.
Dipankar Ash won 1st prize in the "postdoctoral poster presentations".
Kareem Abdelsaid and Alec Davila won the "Graduate School Award for Excellence in Research by a Graduate Student".

(Bottom row L-R) 
Zsuszanna Bordan won the "Ji Cheng Memorial Award for Excellence in Research by a biomedical sciences student in the early years of training".
Thiago Bruder do Nascimento won 3rd prize in the "postdoctoral oral presentations".

Graduate Research Day 2019 Winners

ATVB Conference Finalist for the
Junior Investigator Award for Women.

Huiping Lin
Mentor: Gábor Csányi, PhD

Peptide May Protect Kidneys From Ourselves

Dr Lucas and Team have research featured

READ NEWS FROM TECHNOLOGY NETWORKS

Dr Brian Stansfield Elected President of the Southern Society for Pediatric Research

Read the Article in JAGWIRE

Winner of the American Heart Association - Council on Hypertension 2018 Onsite Trainee Poster Award

Thiago Bruder do Nascimento, Postdoctoral Fellow
Mentor: Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD

"Leptin Supplementation Restores Endothelial Function And Vascular Adrenergic Tone Via Direct Endothelial Mechanisms And Sympato-activation, Respectively, In A Mouse Model Of Congenital Lipodystrophy"

American Heart Summer 2018 Predoc Award Winner

Alec Davila, MD/PhD Candidate

Winner of  the "National Institutes of Health (NIH) F31 Fellowship Award"

Steve Haigh, Graduate Student
Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

Project Title: The hypoxia inducible factor: Galectin 3 signaling axis in pulmonary hypertension

American Heart Summer 2018 Predoc Award Winner

Huiping Lin, PhD Candidate
Menor: Gábor Csányi, PhD

ATVB Travel Award for Young Investigators

New Target Could Help Protect Vision Following Optic Nerve Trauma.

Dr. Abdelrahman Y. Fouda, Dr. Ruth B. Caldwell and research associate Zhimin Xu's work featured in Jagwire.

Read more in Jagwire

Drs. Eric Belin de Chantemele and Jessica Faulkner featured in Jagwire and on WJBF.

Read more in Jagwire

Watch on WJBF news

Congratulations Dr. Rudolf Lucas of the Vascular Biology Center

Recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Researcher Award.

Congratulations Dr. Gabor Csanyi of the Vascular Biology Center

Recipient of the 2018 Emerging Scientist Award.

Getting leptin levels “just right” may provide cardiovascular protection

Drs. Thiago Bruder do Nascimento and Eric Belin de Chantemele featured in Jagwire,

Read more in Jagwire

Dr. Ruth Caldwell receives RO1

National Institute of Health Research Project Grant (R01) Award
Congratulations Dr. Caldwell

Sex Differences in Mechanisms of Hypertension Associated with Obesity

Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD interviewed at Joint Hypertension 2018 Scientific Sessions -
AHA Council on Hypertension | AHA Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease
American Society of Hypertension

See the interview (Friday Sept 7, 2018)

New Target is an Apparent Triple Threat to Pneumonia

Dr. Rudolf Lucas of the VBC featured on WJBF News.

See the TV News Interview
Read more in Jagwire

New Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment Target in the Bull's-eye

Dr. Yunchao Su and Dr. Yuqing Huo of the VBC featured.

Scientists work to protect obese, younger women from cardiovascular risk

Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele and Dr. Jessica Faulkner, postdoctoral fellow, featured in Jagwire

Read more on Jagwire

 Just one high-fat meal sets the perfect stage for heart disease

Dr. Neal L. Weintraub, Dr. Julia E. Brittain and doctoral Student Tyler W. Benson in Jagwire.

Read the Jagwire feature

Copper excess in diabetes hinders our ability to make healthy blood vessels

Drs. Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai of the VBC featured in Jagwire

Read more about the research on jagwire

New target emerging for treating diabetes-related blood vessel damage

Dr. Masuko Ushio-Fukai featured in Jagwire

Read more about Dr. Ushio-Fukai's research

Too little fat is bad for cardiovascular health and leptin therapy may help

Grant by Dr. Bruder do Nascimento and Dr. Belin de Chantemele featured in Jagwire.

Read more about their research

Likely new treatment target identified for Diabetic Retinopathy

Read about it in JagWire

VBC's Dr. Romero-Lucas Receives 2018 Award

Maritza Romero-Lucas, MD, D. Sc, of the VBC, receives Pilot Study Research Program (PSRP) Award!

American Heart Postdoc Award Winner

Anita Kovacs-Kasa, PhD,
Postdoctoral Fellow

Project: "HDAC7 in MLCP-mediated endothelial barrier preservation"

Sponsor: Dr. Alexander Verin

American Heart Postdoc Award Winner

Taysuya Aonuma, PhD,
Postdoctoral Fellow 

Project: "The axis of long noncoding RNA MIAT and microRNA-150 in acute myocardial infarction"

Sponsor: Il-man Kim

American Society of Hematology
2017 Minority Graduate Student
Abstract Achievement Award  

Aluya Oseghale

"Novel conjugates of butyrate and δ-aminolevulinate increase γ-globin gene expression and fetal hemoglobin synthesis in erythroid progenitors"

Mentor: Petty Pace 

Jian Peng “JP”  Teoh, PhD

Thesis: “ß-adrenergic receptor/ß-arrestin-mediated mircroRNA maturation regulatory network: A new player in cardioprotective signaling.”

Mentor: Dr. Il-man Kim

Huijuan “Emily” Dou, PhD

Thesis: “ADAM17 and age-related vascular dysfunction”

Mentor: Dr. Zsolt Bagi

Esraa Shosha, PhD with Distinction

Thesis: “Neurovascular Degeneration Following Retinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury: Role of Arginase 2”

Mentor: Dr. Ruth Caldwell

2017 BCVS Minority Travel Award recipient

Rodney Littlejohn, MD, PhD

Student in Huabo Su’s lab received the
2017 BCVS Minority Travel Award
at the AHA Scientific Session 2017 (11/11-15 in Anaheim, CA) - Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS)