Phone: (706) 721-9796
Fax: (706) 721-7299
Email: jensullivan@augusta.edu
Office: CB-2204
Lab: CB-2210
Learn more about Dr. Sullivan's Research
State University of New York at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY, BS in Biology, 1996
Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, MS and PhD in Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 2000
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, postdoctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Biology and Physiology
2018-present Professor, Department of Physiology, Augusta University
2014-2018 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Augusta University
2013-2014 Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Georgia Regents University
2011-2013 Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Georgia Health Sciences University
2011-present Associate member of the Department of Pharmacology and Associate member of the Vascular Biology Center
2008-2011 Assistant Professor, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia
2006-2008 Instructor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia
2003-2006 Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia
The overall goal of my laboratory is to better understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate blood pressure (BP) and renal health and function in males and females under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. There is increasing evidence supporting a role for the immune system in contributing to the development and maintenance of hypertension. However, the majority of the studies forming the basis for our understanding of immune control of BP has been performed entirely in males. As half of the hypertensive population is female, our lab has been actively investigating the role of immune cell activation in the control of BP in females vs. males. Recent work has approached the question of immune regulation of BP from 2 different angles: 1) why do males have more pro-inflammatory cells and what are the implications of this and 2) why do females have more anti-inflammatory T regulatory cells (Tregs) and do greater Tregs offer protection against the development of hypertension. Additional studies are examining sex differences in acute kidney injury using ischemia-reperfusion. Studies use a blend of whole animal approaches to measure BP, renal and vascular function with ex vivo and biochemical analyses to explore the molecule mechanisms driving sex differences in BP control and renal injury.
2018 Mid-Career Awardee - Hypertension Council
2017 American Journal of Hypertension's John Laragh Research Award
2017 Augusta University Faculty Senate Outstanding Faculty Award from The Graduate
School
2016 Augusta University Authentic Women Leaders Pilot Pipeline Program
2016 American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Comparative and Integrative
Physiology Star Reviewer
2015 Chair, APS Sex and Gender-Related Research Interest Group
2014 Named the 2015 APS Renal Section Young Investigator
2013 Promoted with tenure
2013 Selected as Associate Editor for AJP:Renal Physiology
2013 Selected as Cardiorenal Study Section Co-Chair; American Heart Association
2013 Named Chair of the Augusta University Women’s Health Research Interest Group
in the Div. of Clinical Translational Science
2011 Recipient of GHSU Outstanding Young Basic Science Faculty Award
2011 Recipient of GHSU Research Institute Emerging Scientist Award
2010 Named Fellow of the American Heart Association and the Council for High Blood
Pressure Research
2007 Recipient of Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control Arthur Guyton
New Investigator Award
2007 Named the APS Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section New Investigator
2008 Recipient of Kidney Council New Investigator Travel Award
2006 Recipient of Merck New Investigator Award
Representative Publications
Tipton AJ, Musall JB, Crislip GR, Sullivan JC. Greater transforming growth factor-β in adult female SHR is dependent on blood pressure, but does not account for sex differences in renal T regulatory cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 2017, Epub ahead of print. DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00175.2017 |
Gillis EE and Sullivan JC. Sex Differences in Hypertension: Recent Advances. Hypertension, 68(6):1322-1327 2016. DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116. 06602 |
Taylor L and Sullivan JC. Sex Differences in Obesity-Induced Hypertension and Vascular Dysfunction: A Protective Role for Estrogen in Adipose Tissue Inflammation? Am J Physiol Regu, 2016, Epub ahead of print. DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00202.2016 |
Sasser JM, Brinson KN, Tipton AJ, Crislip GR and Sullivan JC. Blood pressure, sex and female sex hormones influence renal inner medullary nitric oxide synthase activity and expression in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. J Am Heart Association. 4(4); pii: e0017382015, 2015. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.114.001738 |
Tipton AJ, Baban B, Sullivan JC. Female SHR Have a Compensatory Increase in Renal Regulatory T Cells in Response to Elevations in Blood Pressure. Hypertension, 64(3):557-64; 2014. DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.03512 |
Dr. Sullivan's Faculty Profile
Kasey Belanger Graduate Student |
Riyaz Mohamed, PhD Assistant Research Scientist |
Lindsey Ramirez Graduate Student |