Cardiovascular Bridge

Paul Bray, MD

Title: Professor - Internal Medicine (Hematology/BMT)

Dr. Bray’s laboratory studies the role of platelets in cardiovascular disease, and disorders of bleeding and thrombosis. He uses state-of-the-art genomic, transcriptomic and bioinformatic technologies to identify and characterize novel genes and gene variants involved in platelet reactivity. He studies the role of microRNAs in human megakaryocyte differentiation and platelet production, as well as the functional consequences of common variants that differ by geographic ancestry (“race”).

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: transcriptomics, functional genomics, platelets, megakaryocytopoiesis, microRNAs

Email: paul.bray@hsc.utah.edu

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Robert Campbell, PhD

Title: Research Assistant Professor - Internal Medicine (General Internal Medicine)

The primary goal of Dr. Campbell’s research is to determine how blood clots induce robust transcriptional and translational responses in immune cells, which promotes inflammation and thrombosis. During my training, I have focused on dissecting the mechanisms behind how cells alter coagulation under normal and disease situations. Recently, I have begun to examine how hemostasis and thrombosis in turn alters platelet and immune cell inflammatory response.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: thrombosis, platelets, infection, inflammation, aging

Email: rcampbell@u2m2.utah.edu

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Tony Donato, PhD

Title: Associate Professor - Internal Medicine (Geriatrics)

The primary research direction in the Translational Vascular Physiology lab is determining how arteries develop inflammation and oxidative stress with aging and increase our risk of developing vascular diseases. Another recent focus is understanding the vascular etiology of a two of rare diseases, systemic sclerosis (SSC) and cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM), and providing novel and important therapeutics to patients.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: arteries, endothelium, inflammation, oxidative stress, Aging, rare diseases

Email: tony.donato@hsc.utah.edu

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Jim Fang, MD

Title: Professor - Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)

My interests include the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction as well as heart failure with recovered ejection fraction.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: heart failure, diastolic heart failure, myocardial recovery

Email: james.fang@hsc.utah.edu

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Lisa Lesniewski, PhD

Title: Associate Professor - Internal Medicine (Geriatrics)

My laboratory explores mechanisms underlying age- and obesity-associated vascular and metabolic dysfunction and disease. Using genetic, pharmacologic and surgical approaches, we explore the role of mi-92a and ARF6 in vascular and metabolic dysfunction as well as atherosclerotic disease progression across the lifespan.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: aging, obesity, atherosclerosis, insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, endothelium

Email: Lisa.Lesniewski@utah.edu

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Scott McNally, MD, PhD

Title: Assistant Professor - Radiology and Imaging Sciences

Our group’s scientific mission is to optimally detect vascular disease using advanced imaging techniques, with the overall aim to improve diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging, stroke, blood vessels, atherosclerosis, inflammation, oxidative stress

Email: Scott.Mcnally@hsc.utah.edu

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Matt Rondina, MD

Title: Associate Professor - Internal Medicine (General Internal Medicine)

Our research program focuses on platelet and megakaryocyte gene expression and function during thrombo-inflammatory syndromes. To answer clinically-relevant questions, we utilize primary human cells and samples from patients as well as relevant experimental model systems. Current projects in the lab span from studies in patients with infectious diseases (e.g. sepsis, dengue, influenza) to aging and cardiometabolic disorders.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: platelets, sepsis, thrombosis, megakaryocyte, and gene expression

Email: matthew.rondina@hsc.utah.edu

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Craig Selzman, MD

Title: Professor - Surgery

The Selzman lab is focused on the transcriptional control, and in particular, the inflammatory response to myocardial injury and repair. In addition, we are exploring various forms of regenerative therapies for the damaged heart.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: heart failure, myocardial recovery, inflammation, regeneration, ischemia-reperfusion, NF-kappa B

Email: Craig.Selzman@hsc.utah.edu

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Andrew Weyrich, PhD

Title: Professor - Internal Medicine (Pulmonary)

Our laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms that regulate cell/cell interactions, cell signaling, and gene expression in the inflammatory and hemostatic systems, and how these events become dysregulated in human diseases.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: inflammation, gene expression, cell signaling

Email: andy.weyrich@utah.edu

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Guy Zimmerman, MD

Title: Professor - Internal Medicine (Pulmonary)

Our research group studies fundamental mechanisms of infectious, inflammatory and thrombotic diseases. These include syndromes of impaired host defense, such as the leukocyte adhesion deficiencies, and conditions in which unregulated inflammatory or thrombotic responses contribute to pathogenesis and key complications. Some of the latter disorders include acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma and other inflammatory airway diseases, and atherosclerosis and its inflammatory and thrombotic complications. Our work is also relevant to other human diseases including cancer. Our approach is to identify and characterize key molecular events using cell biology strategies, in vitro models, and in vitro and in vivo genetic approaches that include knockout mice.

3i Bridge/Pillar: Cardiovascular

Keywords: inflammation, NET, hemostasis, host responses to infection

Email: guy.zimmerman@u2m2.utah.edu