Daria Ilatovskaya, MS, PhD, FAHA
Associate Professor of Physiology
Graduate Program Director, Physiology
Lab Team
Denisha Spires, PhD
- Assistant Scientist, research track
Alexandra Mark
- MS in Physiology Student
Alena Cherezova, MS
- Senior Research Assistant
Corey Andrews, MS
- Graduate Student
Ryan Schibalski, BS
- Graduate Student
Adam Jones, BS
- Graduate Student
Ray Wade
- Honors Student
Phone: (706) 721-2180
Fax: (706) 721-7299
Email: dilatovskaya@augusta.edu
Office: CA-3137
Lab: CA-3091
Jump to: Education & TrainingAcademic AppointmentsResearch InterestsCurrent ProjectsAwards & HonorsPublications
Education & Training
Academic Appointments
2023 - Associate Professor with tenure, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
2021 - Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
2017-2021 - Assistant Professor, Medical University of South Carolina
2015-2017 - Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin
Research Interests
Water and electrolyte homeostasis, mitochondrial bioenergetics, regulation of ion channel function and their role in the development of cardiorenal pathologies, such as hypertension and polycystic kidney disease, and sex-related differences in these conditions.
Current Projects
Dr. Daria Ilatovskaya joined the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia at the Augusta Univeristy in July 2021, where she moved from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Dr. Ilatovskaya is an ion channel biophysicist and physiologist by training, she obtained her PhD degree at the Institute of Cytology in St. Petersburg, Russia, and spent her early career years at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Ilatovskaya studies cardiorenal function, and especially blood pressure control, which is a highly clinically relevant problem. The number of people living with high blood pressure is predicted to be 1.56 billion worldwide by the year 2025. Dr. Ilatovskaya’s research is aimed at advancing our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie kidney and heart disease. The laboratory specializes in investigating the regulation of ion channels and transporters in the different aspects of cardiorenal disorders. Recently, the scope of the lab has been expanded towards the studies of cardiorenal mitochondrial bioenergetics, with a focus on sex differences in pathobiology.
Methods: The lab uses in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro techniques to study physiology using an integrative approach that includes the molecular, cellular, and whole-organism levels. In addition to routine molecular biology, the lab specializes in unique methods, such as single-channel electrophysiology performed on freshly isolated nephron segments and mitochondria, the state-of-the-art in vivo and ex vivo confocal and epifluorescence microscopy, measurements of mitochondrial bioenergetics, chronic blood pressure monitoring and other sophisticated techniques.
Core lab values: solid science, success of our trainees, fostering a welcoming environment that values varied perspectives and provides opportunities for all individuals to participate and succeed, outreach/advocacy/volunteering, and life balance (last but not least) are the staples at the core of Dr. Ilatovskaya's lab philosophy.
Awards & Accomplishments
2025 - Outstanding Eary Career Basic Science Faculty Award, Augusta University Faculty Senate
2024 - Distinguished Keynote Zofia Zukowska Lecture, Dept. of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota.
2024 - Young Investigator Award, Renal Section of the American Physiological Society
2022- Selected for the inaugural council on Undergraduate Research(CUR) Students Transforming Through Research(STR) program for undergraduate research advocacy.
2020- Journal of the American Society of Nephrology Editorial Fellow.
2019 - Lazaro J Mandel Young Investigator Award, the American Physiological Society.
2019 - New Investigator Award, Renal Section of the American Physiological Society.
2018 - FAHA distinction from the American Heart Association.
2018 - Outstanding research presentation winner, Junior Faculty - Basic Research category, Medical University of South Carolina.
2017 - Best Poster Award winner in the Junior Faculty - Basic Research category, Medical College of Wisconsin Research Day.
2016 - Research Recognition Award for junior faculty (Renal Section of the American Physiological Society) at Experimental Biology Meeting.
2014 - Edward J. Lennon, MD Award for an Outstanding Woman Postdoctoral Researcher.
2026 - 2027 - Provost Faculty Fellow, Augusta University (program designed to provide eligible Augusta University faculty members with leadership and administrative experiences to
prepare a pipeline of future academic administrators and leaders at AU)
2026 - John Laragh Research Award (Basic Science), Am Journal of Hypertension
2025 -“Best Review Paper” award, American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology
2025 - AHA Kidney In Cardiovascular Disease Council Mid-Career Achievement Award and Lecture (presented at AHA Hypertension Sci Sessions)
Selected Publications