yao-falk-award

Hongwei Yao, Ph.D was awarded a 12-month Falk Research Award

hongwei-yao-kudosHongwei Yao, Ph.D was awarded a 12-month Falk Research Award from the Dr. Ralph and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust, Falk Trust Awards Programs, Falk Medical Research Trust. Yao is currently an Associate Professor (Research) Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School. His research focuses on molecular pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets in chronic lung diseases including neonatal Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) as well as adult Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis using cultured cells, animal models and human peripheral tissues. Dr. Yao is an expert in lung oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular senescence, metabolism, and mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy). His recently funded Falk Research award project is entitled “Identification of Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1A as a Novel Target for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia”.

Jamila H Siamwala, PhD receives $310,000 for Neurovascular Aging Phenotypes of Alzheimer’s Disease and Progeria project

Jamila Siamwala, PhD, Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology (MPPB), received $310,000 in response to “NOT-AG-18-008 Alzheimer’s Disease and its related Dementias (AD/ADRD)-focused Administrative supplements for NIH grants that are not focused on Alzheimer’s disease” announcement. Her project is titled “Neurovascular Aging Phenotypes of Alzheimer’s Disease and Progeria: Focus on Inflammation and Blood Brain Barrier.” Dr. Siamwala is a CPVB COBRE pilot project investigator. Her COBRE project is titled “Right Ventricular Fibrosis from PAH is Dependent on Macrophage IL-1b Signaling.”

2019 Breathing for Life Award to Honor Dr. Sharon Rounds, Foundation Champion and Benefactor

Sharon Rounds, MD, Co-Director of the CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology COBRE, will receive the 2019 Breathing for Life Award —the highest honor given by the Foundation for philanthropy, scientific achievement, and commitment to mentorship. Dr Rounds will receive the award at the 11th Annual ATS Foundation Research Program Benefit, Saturday, May 18 at ATS 2019, Dallas, Texas.

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CPVB COBRE investigator Corey E. Ventetuolo, MD, MS Awarded $3.7M for R01 Study

Congratulations to CPVB COBRE investigator Corey E. Ventetuolo, MD, MS (Assistant Professor of Medicine and Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University), who has been awarded $3.7M R01 from the National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute for proposed research on “Effects of DHEA in Pulmonary Hypertension (DIPH)”. This grant will include the first clinical trial of an endogenous sex hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone, in pulmonary arterial hypertension and will provide mechanistic insight into sexual dimorphism in cardiopulmonary phenotypes including right ventricular failure.

CPVB COBRE investigator Alan Morrison, MD, PhD Awarded R01 Study

CPVB COBRE investigator Alan Morrison, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School Brown University, was awarded an R01 titled “Development of Rac-Targeted Therapeutic Strategy for Treatment of Calcific Atherosclerosis”. In July 2016 Dr. Morrison received a 12 month pilot project from the CPVB COBRE and graduated to COBRE investigator June 2017. Dr. Morrison’s R01 study will define the role of macrophage Rac-dependent signaling during inflammatory calcification of atherosclerotic plaque.

Dr. Alan Morrison appointed as Junior Investigator with the CPVB COBRE

Dr. Alan Morrison has been appointed as a Junior Investigator with the CPVB COBRE at the Ocean State Research Institute. Morrison is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at Warren Alpert Medical School Brown University. He completed his residency and fellowship at Yale New Haven Hospital. His project is titled “Statins Influence Cardiovascular Outcomes by Modulation of Atherosclerotic Plaque Calcium Density”. Dr. Morrison’s laboratory focuses on mechanisms of immune-mediate vascular remodeling by studying the macrophage-directed the biologic processes of arteriogenesis, atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic calcification, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. The overarching goal of the research in his lab is to define macrophage-dependent signaling mechanisms that modulate these processes in order to identify novel targets for the development of new inhibitory strategies that might one day be used in the clinic.

Dr. Qing Lu graduates from CPVB COBRE junior investigator to independent PI

Dr. Qing Lu, Associate Professor of Medicine (Research), Warren Alpert Medical School Brown University, has graduated from CPVB COBRE junior investigator to independent PI. Since the CPVB COBRE’s commencement in September 2013, Dr. Lu and her team have worked diligently on her project “Role of Adenosine in Cigarette Smoke-Induced Lung endothelial Injury”. In July 2016, Dr. Lu received R01 funding for her project “HDAC6 regulates cigarette smoke-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction and lung injury”. This study will provide innovative insights into the effect of cigarette smoke on lung endothelial barrier function. Establishment of the links among HDAC6, mitochondrial fission and mtDAMPs may result in new therapeutic approaches to cigarette smoke-induced vascular injury in the lung and potentially also in the systemic circulation.

Congratulations to Qing!

Dr. Debasree Banerjee awarded 12-month pilot project

Dr. Debasree Banerjee was awarded a 12-month pilot project with the CPVB COBRE at the Ocean State Research Institute. She is an Instructor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI. Dr. Banerjee’s research focuses on investigating Chitinase 3 Like 1, an inflammatory biomarker in the cecalligation and puncture mouse model. Her pilot project is entitled “Characterizing Immunomodulation and Inflammation in Sepsis: The Role of Chitinase 3 Like 1”. Her academic and research objectives for the next three years are to establish funding for her research in the form of a mentored K award related to the immunomodulation in shock.

Dr. Alan Morrison Awarded 12-month Pilot Project

Dr. Alan Morrison was awarded a 12-month pilot project with the CPVB COBRE at the Ocean State Research Institute. Morrison is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He completed his residency and fellowship at Yale New Haven Hospital. His pilot project is entitled Therapeutic Targeting of IL-1β-Based Mechanisms in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Dr. Morrison’s long-term goal is to develop a successful independent research program with strong emphasis on using molecular imaging techniques to facilitate mechanistic studies in preclinical models of disease in order to identify critical modulators of pathology that may be viable targets for novel clinical strategies.

Dr. Jason Aliotta was awarded a 5-month pilot project

Dr. Jason Aliotta was awarded a 5-month pilot project with the CPVB COBRE at the Ocean State Research Institute. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI. Dr. Aliotta’s research focuses on the interaction between the pulmonary vasculature and bone marrow via circulating extracellular vesicles. His pilot project is entitled “The role of extracellular vesicles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension”. The long-term goal is to identity an alternative target for developing therapies for PAH.