Profile
Heart failure (HF) is a major clinical problem. For almost twenty years, my investigations have focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms involved in the initiation and progression of HF, with a particular emphasis on identifying those intermediates that are common and responsive to oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. Recently, we identified TRAF3IP2 as a nodal point through which various inflammatory pathways converge. TRAF3IP2 activates two critical pathways that lead to the activation of NF-κB, AP-1 and C/EBPβ, and the induction of inflammatory cytokines with negative inotropic effects. Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) is a unique membrane-anchored protein, regulated by TRAF3IP2, inhibits multiple mediators considered responsible for adverse structural remodeling. Notably, hearts from HF subjects show increased TRAF3IP2, but suppressed RECK expression. Our current studies are focused on identifying pharmacological inhibitors of TRAF3IP2 and inducers of RECK, and determine their therapeutic potential in the progression of HF.
Academic Information
Office
1 Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65212
United States
Areas of Expertise
- Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury
- Myocardial infarction
- Pressure overload hypertrophy by transverse aortic constriction (banding)
- Investigate signal transduction pathways in isolated myocardial constituent cells
Education & Training
Post-Graduate School
1989, PhD, Central Drug Research institution, Lucknow, India
Awards & Honors
- 1985-1989 Senior Research Fellowship Award (merit), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi, India
- 1990 Travel Award by Western Society for Clinical Investigation
- 1994 Young Scientist Award by ASOIA
- 1994 Geriatric Research Academic Award by Aging Research & Education Center at UTHSCSA Research grant
- 2001-2002 San Antonio Area Foundation Research grant
- 2001-2009 Member, IACUC, VA Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas
- 2001-2009 Member, Review committee, American Heart Association, Western Consortium
- 2003 Moderator, AHA National Scientific Sessions 2003, Orlando, FL
- 2006 Member, Review Committee, Veterans Administration Merit Review Program
- 2007 Ad-Hoc, NIH Cardiac Contractility, Hypertrophy, and Failure Study Section
- 2007 Associate Director for Research of the Jane Briscoe Center of Excellence, Cardiology, UTHSCSA
- 2007 Associate Faculty, Joint Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, UTSA and UTHSCSA
- 2007 Abstract grader, AHA Scientific Sessions, 2007, Hypertrophy and Heart Failure section
- 2009 Abstract grader, AHA Scientific Sessions, 2009, Cardiac Failure and Remodeling section
- 12/2010 – 7/2015 Robert Morgadanes Professor, Medicine/Heart and Vascular institution, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
- Oct 1, 2012– to date Research Career Scientist, Veterans Administration
- 07/10/2015 – to date Margaret Mulligan Endowed Professor, Medicine/Cardiology, University of Missouri, CO
- 05/ 2015 Member, Review Committee (CARA), Veterans Administration Merit Review Program
- 12/2015 Member, Review Committee (CARA), Veterans Administration Merit Review Program
- 08/2016- to date Member, Promotions & Tenure Committee