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Vascular Biology Center Community News

Jump to: Current YearLast Year  Accolades Archive Making Memories

 

Current Year

2025

 Culver Vision Discovery Institute Savannah River Eye Meeting on March 26, 2025

Dhruvi Paladiya, a 3rd year medical student, and Mai Yamamoto, a post-doc, from Dr. Ruth Caldwell lab, were awarded for presenting the best posters at the "4th annual Culver Vision Discovery Institute Savannah River Eye Meeting" carried out in Summerville Campus Ballroom, March 26, 2025. 

Dhruvi Paladiya’s project title “Differential effects of inhibiting ACAT1 on VEGF expression in diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity.” 

Mai Yamamoto’s project title “Novel Role of Acyl-CoA: Cholesterol Acyltransferase 1/Sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1/SOAT1) in Ischemic Retinopathies” 

Dr. Steven Brooks (Department Chair of Ophthalmology and Co-Director of Vision Discovery Institute).  Harry Henry-Ojo (graduate student). Budkin, Stepan (Graduate Research Assistant). Mai Yamamoto (Postdoctoral Fellow). Dhruvi Paladiya, (third-year medical student). Yutao Liu, PhD, Professor, Cellular Biology & Anatomy.

Left to right: Dr. Steven Brooks (Department Chair of Ophthalmology and Co-Director of Vision Discovery Institute).  Harry Henry-Ojo (graduate student). Budkin, Stepan (Graduate Research Assistant). Mai Yamamoto (Postdoctoral Fellow). Dhruvi Paladiya, (third-year medical student). Yutao Liu, PhD, Professor, Cellular Biology & Anatomy.

Dr. Syed Adeel Zaidi

Dr. Syed Adeel Zaidi

 


Great News

 We are very happy to share the exciting news with Dr. Syed Adeel Zaidi’s Career Development Award from the American Heart Association. The title of the project is Role of Ornithine Decarboxylase in Retina Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury. The Award will be for three years from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028. His mentor for this CDA award is Dr. Ruth Caldwell. Congratulations to Dr. Zaidi and his mentor Dr. Caldwell! We look forward to your progress in research and career development.

Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology (ARVO) Science Communication Training Fellowship Award

Yusra Zaidi, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Brian Stansfield’s lab, was selected to be a Fellow of the 2025 ARVO Science Communication Training Fellowship. ARVO Members-in-Training are recognized for their passion for the role of science in the world and their desire to learn how to improve their science communication and science advocacy skills.

Congratulations!

Last Year

2024

David Kim successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled “Identification of human-specific novel long non-coding RNA in neointima formation” on November 13th. By a unanimous vote from his committee, he has been awarded the PhD degree “With Distinction”! Dr. Kim was mentored by Dr. Neal Weintraub and his committee members were Drs. David Fulton, Lin Gan, Xiaochun Long, Joseph Miano, and his reader Dr. Kunzhe Dong.

Congratulations and we wish you continued success with your MD!

 

WonMo Ahn successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled “Activation of receptor-independent fluid-phase pinocytosis promotes foamy monocyte formation in atherosclerotic mice” on September 12th. By a unanimous vote from his committee, he has been awarded the PhD degree “With Distinction”! Dr. Ahn was mentored by Dr. Gabor Csanyi and his committee members were Drs. David Fulton, David Stepp, Huabo Su, Graydon Gonsalvez, and his reader Dr. Benard Ogola

Well done!

 


American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions in Chicago | September 5-8, 2024

American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions in Chicago held September 5-8, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois

Beryl Khakina

Beryl Khakina, a Vascular Biology PhD student under the advisement of Eric Belin de Chantemele, received the award for Support of Underrepresented Minorities from the American Heart Association (AHA). She was selected for two oral presentations of her project, “HIV-derived proteins induce Neuroinflammation, Hypertension and Sympatho-activation via T-cell-dependent mechanisms in the Tg26 Mouse Model,” at the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI) Trainee Session on September 4th, and at the New Paradigms in Brain Mechanisms of Hypertension session on September 7th.

Ishara MG Menik

Ishara MG Menik, a Vascular Biology PhD student under the advisement of Eric Belin de Chantemele, received the Trainee Advocacy Committee (TAC) Early Career award for the poster presentation project “Inappropriate Activation of the Leptin-Aldosterone-Endothelial Mineralocorticoid Receptor axis promotes Salt sensitivity of Blood pressure in Young female mice".

Yoichi Ono

Yoichi Ono, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in Eric Belin de Chantemele’s lab, received a Hypertension New Investigator Travel Award for the oral presentation “Adrenal Zona Glomerulosa Long Form Leptin Receptor (LepRb) Protects from Leptin-Mediated Vascular Disorders in Female Mice” on September 5th.

BRAVO! 

 


 

Congratulations to Suhib Alhusban!

photo of Suhib Alhusban

Suhib Alhusban

Suhib Alhusban successfully defended his PhD dissertation entitled “Glucosamine Mediated Hexosamine Biosynthesis Pathway Activation Utilizes ATF4 to Promote “Exercise-Like” Angiogenesis and Perfusion Recovery in PAD” on September 12th. By a unanimous vote from his committee, he has been awarded the PhD degree “With Distinction”! Suhib was mentored by Dr. Brian Annex and his committee members were Drs. Tohru fukai, David Fulton Yuqing Huo, and Somanath Shenoy.
Congratulations Dr. Alhusban!

Congratulations to Steve Haigh & Zsuzsanna Bordan!

photo of Steve Haigh

Steve Haigh

Steve Haigh successfully defended his PhD dissertation entitled “The Role of Galectin 3 in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension” on July 11th. Steve was mentored by Dr. David Fulton and his committee members were Drs. Scott Barman, Gabor Csanyi, Yuqing Huo, and David Stepp.
Steve has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. David Fulton in the Vascular Biology Center.
Congratulations Dr. Haigh!

photo of Zsuzsanna Bordan

Zsuzsanna Bordan

Zsuzsanna Bordan successfully defended her PhD dissertation entitled “PDZ-Binding Kinase, a Novel Regulator of Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension” on July 3rd. Zsuzsanna was mentored by Dr. David Fulton and her committee members were Drs. Scott Barman, Gabor Csanyi, Yuqing Huo, and Neal Weintraub.
Zsuzsanna
has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Alexander Verin in the Vascular Biology Center.

Congratulations Dr. Bordan!

 


Congratulations to outstanding trainees!

The Postdoctoral Evaluation Committee recognizes three Postdoctoral Fellows for outstanding productivity during the 2024 performance review.

Qian Ma, PhD, received the Special Chair’s Postdoctoral Award for excellence in productivity.
Qiuhua Yang, PhD, received the Late-Stage Postdoctoral Award for productivity and career progress.
Rahul Patel, PhD, received the Early-Stage Postdoctoral Award for productivity.

Lucas, Patel, Ma Yang

 

Group photo L/R: Rudolf Lucas, Postdoctoral Evaluation Committee Chair, Rahul Patel, Qian Ma, and Qiuhua Yang


Congratulations to Taylor Kress!

photo of Taylor Kress

Taylor Kress

Taylor Kress successfully defended his PhD dissertation

 "Role of HIV-Derived Proteins Expressed by CD4+ T Lymphocytes and of the Integrase Inhibitor Dolutegravir in the Development of HIV-Associated Cardiometabolic Disorders" on June 12th. Taylor was mentored by Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele and committee members were Drs. Gabor Csanyi, David Fulton, David Mattson, and David Stepp.
Taylor has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Crowley. 

Well done Dr. Kress!

 


Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Conference

Yusra Zaidi, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Brian Stansfield’s lab, received the ARVO Foundation Travel Grant for the highest-scored abstract at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Conference, held May 5, 2024, in Seattle, for the project title “Loss of Neurofibromin facilitates pathological retinal neovascularization (RNV) via Akt-2 facilitated GLUT-1 translocation”  

Arco Foundation Travel Grant
Travel Grant Awardees Arvo 2024

 

MCG Faculty Senate Award Ceremony 

Eric Belin de Chantemele received the Medical College of Georgia Faculty Senate Mentoring Excellence Award, at the MCG Faculty Senate Award Ceremony, May 23.

Faculty Senate Award Ceremony                 (l-r) Dr. David Hess, Dean of Medical College of Georgia  Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele Dr. Lara Stepleman, Associate Dean for Faculty Success                               Dr. Vishal Arora, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

(l-r) Dr. David Hess, Dean of Medical College of Georgia, Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele, Dr. Lara Stepleman, Associate Dean for Faculty Success, Dr. Vishal Arora, Faculty Senate President & Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

May 23, 2024


39th Annual Graduate Research Day

Chatterjee memorial award

Recipient of inaugural Dr. Tapan K. Chatterjee Memorial Award is Josue Zambrano-Carrasco in recognition of research excellence at the 39th Annual Graduate Research Day

(l-r) Dr. Ralf Lucas, Josue Zambrano-Carrasco,

Dr. Soma Mukhopadhyay (wife of Dr. Chatterjee),

Dr. David Fulton

 

 

 


3rd Annual Savannah River Eye Meeting

Yusra Zaidi, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Brian Stansfield’s lab, received the Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Award at the 3rd Annual Savannah River Eye Meeting held March 13, 2024 for project title “Loss of Neurofibromin facilitates pathological retinal neovascularization (RNV) via Akt-2 facilitated GLUT-1 translocation”

 

VDI Savannah Eye research meeting award
VDI Savannah Eye research meeting award

 


The Graduate School 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award

2024 FS awards

David FultonDr. David Fulton received The Graduate School 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award during the annual awards ceremony on April 2nd. This award honors a graduate faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional, long-term commitment to Augusta University and The Graduate School, and this is the highest honor that the graduate faculty may bestow.

Since joining the Vascular Biology Center in 2002, Dr. Fulton has served on 56 graduate student thesis committees and mentored 13 students, 8 of whom have graduated, with 5 currently under his guidance.

 

Dr. Fulton, we are grateful for your dedication to the VBC and training future researchers. Many congratulations!

April 2, 2024

 


38th Annual Graduate Research Day events held March 7 & 8, 2024.

Excellent research and presentations by all!

Graduate Student Poster Presentation

Ishara Menik Hitihami, PhD Student

Award for Excellence in Research by a graduate student for the poster presentation of “High Salt Diet disrupts the Endothelial function in Young Female mice via Dysregulated Leptin-Aldosterone-Endothelial Mineralocorticoid Receptor Axis”
Advisor:     Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD

Post-Doctoral Oral Presentations

Qian Ma, PhD

 

Qian Ma, PhD

3rd place award for Excellence in Research by a Postdoctoral Fellow for oral presentation of “De novo nucleotide synthesis is necessary for DNA damage and repair in atheroprone endothelial cells”
Advisor:     Yuqing Huo

 

 

 

Sheela Nagarkoti, PhD

 

Sheela Nagarkoti, PhD

presented “Excess Glycolysis Limits VEGF-induced VEGFR2 activation and angiogenesis via Cysteine oxidation of VEGFR2”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai

 

 

Yoichi Ono, MD, PhD

 

Yoichi Ono, MD, PhD presented “Role of the Long form Leptin Receptor (Ob-Rb) in Aldosterone Synthase (AS) Expressing Cells in the Control of Cardiovascular Function in Female Mice”
Advisor: Eric Belin de Chantemele

 

 

 

 

Varsha Tandra, PhD

Varsha Tandra, PhD,



 

Varsha Tandra, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Jie Li’s lab, received 1st place award for the oral presentation of “Regulation of UFM1 modification from ER dynamics to cardiac homeostasis” at the 38th Graduate Research Day held March 7, 2024.

 

 

 

Mai Yamamoto, PhD

 

Mai Yamamoto, PhD

presented “Novel Role of Copper Uptake Transporter CTR1 in Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai

 

 

Shikha Yadav, PhD

 

Shikha Yadav, PhD

presented “Macrophage Drp1 as a novel redox sensor driving revascularization of ischemic muscle”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai

 

 

 

 

Yusra Zaidi, PhD

Yusra Zaidi, PhD

 

 

Yusra Zaidi, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Brian Stansfield’s lab, received 2nd prize for the oral presentation of “Loss of Neurofibromin facilitates pathological retinal neovascularization (RNV) via Akt-2 facilitated GLUT-1 translocation” at the 39th Annual Graduate Research Day, MCG, held March 7, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 


 

CSRA AHA Heart ball 2024

 

CSRA AHA Heart Ball held February 9th at Augusta Marriott Convention Center

The Heart Ball celebrates the American Heart Association’s year-round fund raising efforts and educating the community by honoring the volunteers and patrons.

Section heading

Accolades Archive

2023

Group of AHA 2023 awardees

AHA Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Abstract Travel Grant Awardees

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions held November 11-13 at Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Varsha Tandra

 

Varsha Tandra, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow

Mentor:  Jie Li   

Abstract: Deciphering the cardioprotective role of UFM1 modification in cardiac remodeling

 

 

Josue Zambrano-Carrasco

 

Josue Zambrano-Carrasco, PhD student in Vascular Biology

Mentor: Huabo Su

Abstract: RBX1-CRLs Are Essential for Perinatal Heart Development by Regulating Hippo-YAP Signaling

Open paws pantry

VBC wins 1st place in Annual Open Paws Food Drive

2023 Open Paws winners - VBC

Second year in a row, VBC WINS! 1st place in the 2nd annual “Win the Feud, Give Some Food” food drive to support the AU’s Open Paws Pantry, held October 23–27. The competitive spirit runs high between fellow Biomedical Sciences graduate programs. We congratulate everyone for supporting such a worthy cause.

What is Open Paws Pantry? One of many resources available to AU students in need which provides not only food but non-food items such as toiletries, cleaning supplies, and school supplies.

 

AHA Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Abstract Travel Grant Awardees

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions held November 11-13 at Philadelphia, PA

 

people posing for camera

 

woman smiles and poses for camera

 

Varsha Tandra, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow

Mentor:  Jie Li   

Abstract: Deciphering the cardioprotective role of UFM1 modification in cardiac remodeling

 

 

 

man smiles and poses for camera

 

Josue Zambrano-Carrasco, PhD student in Vascular Biology

Mentor: Huabo Su

Abstract: RBX1-CRLs Are Essential for Perinatal Heart Development by Regulating Hippo-YAP Signaling

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gabor Csanyi

 

Congratulations! Dr. Gabor Csanyi

Dr. Csanyi received the 2023 AURI Distinguished Scientist Award

 

Journal Club presentation awardees for 2022-2023

center of excellence recognition 2023

Certificate of Excellence in Recognition of

Best Presentation by PhD Candidate, Hunter Sellers

Best Presentation by Graduate Student, Maria Blahove

Best Presentation by International Graduate Student, Suhib Alhusban

Excellent Work! Hunter, Maria, and Suhib. 

 

GRA lab 2023GRA Student Scholars 2023

Fourteen undergraduate students from Georgia spent their summer working alongside some of the most accomplished scientists in their fields. Three of those have been working in Dr. Neal Weintraub's lab.

Montanta Cagle, McCalyster Turner and Quinkivia Williams all from Paine College.

“My internship experience was amazing,” reports Quinkivia Williams, a Paine College student who joined the lab of GRA Eminent Scholar Neal Weintraub at Augusta University. “While putting together presentations, I learned how important it is for engagement with the community to help reduce cancer disparities in different races.”

 

Read more

 

May 25-28, 2023 | The 17th Oriental Congress of Cardiology

Drs. Long and Miano
- Xiaochun Long presented her work on “The Interplay Between Coding and Noncoding Genes in Vascular Smooth Muscle Phenotype and Disease”
Joe Miano presented “Emerging Models of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell-Restricted Gene Expression”

 

The 17th Oriental Congress of Cardiology (OCC) 2023 held in Shanghai, China, Dr. Xiaochun Long and Dr. Joseph Miano were honored to be invited to attend the conference and share their research.

(middle) Xiaochun Long presented her work on “The Interplay Between Coding and Noncoding Genes in Vascular Smooth Muscle Phenotype and Disease”

(right) Joe Miano presented “Emerging Models of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell-Restricted Gene Expression”

 

May 2023 | Congratulations to the Intramural Grants Program (IGP) Awardees

Wei Zhang, PhD

 

Wei Zhang, PhD

Project title: Elucidation of the in vivo function of DDX21 in proliferative vasculopathy

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander Verin, PhD

 

Alexander Verin, PhD

Project title: EXAM-mediated mechanisms of lung injury in HFpEF

 

 

 

 

 

March 16-17, 2023 |38th Graduate Research Day Events

 

Grad Day photo with 3 woman and one man posing for camera with rewards

Reem Atawia, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow who is mentored by Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele, awarded 2nd place for Excellence in Research (poster presentation)

Candee Barris, a candidate for PhD in Vascular Biology who is mentored by Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele, received the Virendra B. Mahesh Award (poster presentation) for “Ovarian-derived sex hormones do not mediate the sex-specific mechanism of hypertension in obese mice”

Zsuzsanna Bordan, a candidate for PhD in Vascular Biology who is mentored by Dr. David Fulton, awarded Research Excellence in Vascular Biology by a graduate student for “PDZ Binding Kinase, a Novel Regulator of Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension” (poster presentation)

Josue Zambrano-Carrasco, Student for PhD in Vascular Biology who is mentored by Dr. Huabo Su, awarded the Ji Chen Memorial Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research by a graduate student in the early years of training for “An indispensable role of RBX1 in heart development“ (poster presentation)

We are proud of our students, trainees and faculty

 

APS logo/ American Physiological Society

April 20-23, 2023 | American Physiology Summit (APS) held in Long Beach, CA

 

 

Reem Atawia, PhD

 

Reem Atawia, PhD, was awarded the APS-Cardiovascular Section “Outstanding Trainee Award”

Award description 

 

 

 

 

Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD

 

Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD, received the inaugural award for “The APS Charles Bates Research Award”

Award description 

 

 

2022

Dr. Xiaochun Long Making veins stronger so heart bypass grafts, dialysis access work better
Candee Barris, Drs. Belin de Chantemele and Janis Coffin

Dr. Belin de Chantemele, Candee Barris and Dr. Janis Coffin speak about salt sensitive blood pressure on WRDW news Channel 12. 

Open Paws Pantry logo

Vascular Biology Center takes 1st place during the five day competition “Win the Feud, Give Some Food” with the largest amount of items donated to the Open Paws Pantry (October 3-7, 2022). Donations directly benefit AU students.

The Open Paws Pantry is FREE to all students. All food and non-food items are accepted but many of the needs are grab-and-go food, toiletries, and microwavable food items.

Open Paws Pantry Flyer

VBC for Open Paws Pantry

Front: Candee Barris, Karl Diaz-Sanders, Brand Goo, Zsuzsanna Bordan, Josue Zambrano-Carrasco

Middle: Maria Blahove, Cody Rosewater, Zach Brown, Tayler Kress, Suhib Alhusban

Back: David Kim, Steve Haigh, Drew Speese

 

MCG Scientists find new target in fight against heart disease
DECEMBER 30, 2022 | WJBFCOM | NEWS CHANNEL 6

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States…and in the CSRA. Scientists at MCG have discovered a new target in the treatment of the incurable disease. And regulating that target could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

Coronary artery disease- the most common type of heart disease- occurs when cholesterol and fat block the passage of blood flow to your heart. 

Scientists at MCG have found that the smooth muscle cells that give those blood vessels strength respond by getting bigger and multiplying. Unfortunately, this further contributes to the disease. 

Read more  

2021

Team VBC, lead by Captain, Candee Barris, joins Augusta University Annual Days of Service to raise money for the final event held Nov 6th at SRP Park in North Augusta, Walk to End Alzheimer’s

AU Days of Service - 2021

Team VBC, lead by Captain, Candee Barris, joins Augusta University Annual Days of Service to raise money for the final event held Nov 6th at SRP Park in North Augusta, Walk to End Alzheimer’s

An estimated 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia. In the United States alone, more than 6 million have Alzheimer’s, and over 11 million are providing unpaid care. The Association addresses this crisis by providing education and support to the millions who face dementia every day, while advancing critical research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.

VBC Walk to end Alzheimers

 Team VBC left to right -  FRONT: Laszlo Kovacs, Candee Barris, Brandee Goo, unknown.

BACK: Taylor Kress, Anita Kovacs-Kasa, Jessica Faulkner, Eric Belin de Chantemele, Manuela Bartoli, Gabor Csanyi

​​
VBC Walk to end Alzheimers
VBC Walk to end Alzheimers
VBC Walk to end Alzheimers

 

Belin de Chantemele

Congratulations Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemèle!

Dr. Belin de Chantemele received the 2021 AURI Outstanding Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award.

Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele

Congratulations Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemèle!

Dr. Belin de Chantemèle is to Present the Henry Pickering Bowditch Award Lecture during the Experimental Biology 2021 Conference held April 27-30.

This award honors early-career achievement in physiology and is given to an APS member younger than 42 or who is fewer than eight years from the start of the first faculty or staff research scientist position beyond postdoctoral training. Dr. Belin de Chantemèle’s lecture is Obesity-Associate Cardiovascular Disease: The exposed Secret of the Sexes.

 

 

GRD 2021 awards

(left to right) Qiuhua Yang, Taylor Kress, Caleb Padgett, Candee Barris, Reem Atawia & Robert Batori

 

Drs. Stepp and Padgett 2021 awards

Dr. David Stepp & Caleb Padgett

36th Annual Graduate Research Day

Ji Cheng Memorial & Phi Kappa Phi Award for Excellence in Research by a Biomedical Sciences student in the early years of training
– Candee Barris

The Graduate School Award for Excellence in Research by a Graduate Student – Taylor Kress

Program & Discipline Award for Excellence in Research – Vascular Biology – Caleb Padgett

Award for Excellence in Research by a Postdoctoral Fellow (poster)
- 2nd place – Robert Batori
- 3rd place – Qiuhua Yang

Award for Excellence in Research by a Postdoctoral Fellow (oral)
- 1st place – Reem Atawia

AMERICAN HEART ASSOC. PREDOCTORAL & POSTDOCTORAL AWARDEES:

Predoctoral Fellow Awardees:  Taylor Kress

Postdoctoral Fellow Awardees:  Qiuhua Yang, and Reem Atawia

 

Drs. Belin with Kress, Barris and Atawia

(l to r) Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele with students Taylor Kress, Candee Barris, & Postdoctoral Fellow Reem Atawia

 

Drs. Batori & Fulton

Postdoctoral fellow Robert Batori & Dr. David Fulton

2020

Dr. Rudolf Lucas

Congratulations to Rudolf Lucas!

Rudolf Lucas, PhD received an Intramural Grants Program (IGP) award for his project entitled: Restoration of ENaC Blunts SARS-CoV2S Protein-Induced Lung Endothelial Dysfunction

Congratulations to Dr. Lucas and his team!

Caleb Padgett

Congrats to Vascular Biology PhD candidate, Caleb Padgett

 
PhD Student Brings Joy to Patients in the Georgia Cancer Center

Dr. Yuqing Huo

Congratulations to Dr. Yuqing Huo!

Dr. Huo was awarded the 2020 AURI Distinguished Researcher Award.

Research interests

  • Examination of metabolic effect on leukocyte recruitment and activation
  • fibroblast activation
  • activation and proliferation of vascular cells in animal models of atherosclerosis
  • thrombosis
  • diabetes/obesity
  • pulmonary hypertension
  • retinopathy
  • cardiac hypertrophy
  • renal fibrosis

Dr. Ruth Caldwell

Congratulations!

Ruth B. Caldwell, PhD received the 2020 AURI Research Lifetime Achievement Award.

Research Interests

  • Mechanisms that control microvascular growth and permeability barrier function
  • Mechanisms that regulate the expression and signal transduction functions of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and PEDF (pigment epithelial derived factor).

 

Dr. Yuqing Huo


 

 

 

 

Dr. David Stepp

Congratulations to MCG Faculty Senate Awardees, Drs. Yuqing Huo & David Stepp!

Yuqing Huo, MD, PhD, Professor of Cellular Biology and Anatomy received the 2020 Basic Science Research Award

 

 

 

David Stepp, PhD, Professor of Physiology received the Outstanding Faculty Award

Atawia-Reem Postdoc picture

Congratulations!

Dr. Reem Atawia, Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Belin de Chantemele’s lab has been awarded a one year Postdoctoral Fellowship from the American Physiological Society (APS)

“Perivascular Adipose Tissue Regulates Endothelial Function And Glucose Disposal Via Leptin-Control Of the endothelial PFKFB3-Nox1 pathway”

Jie Li, PhD 

Congratulations!

Jie Li, PhD
Assistant Professor

Jr Faculty Award 1st Place Oral Presentation

"Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (Ufm1), a small protein modifier with big impact on pathological cardiac remodeling"

Academy of Cardiovascular Research Excellence (ACRE)
Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (APS)
Research Symposium 2020

Eric Belin de Cantemele, PhD 

Congratulations!

Eric Belin de Chantmele, PhD
Associate Professor

RO1 Score of 2 percentile!!

"Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (Ufm1), a small protein modifier with big impact on pathological cardiac remodeling"

Head shot of Robert Batori 

AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Begins January 2020

Robert Batori, PhD
Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

"Novel roles of PFKFB3 in mediating nitric oxide syntheses and endothelial dysfunction in obesity" 

2019

Huiping Lin gets Travel Award at AHA 2019

ATVB Travel Award for Basic Science Abstracts Oral Presentation

2019 AHA Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia.

Huiping Lin
Mentor:  Gábor Csányi, PhD

"Receptor-independent Ldl Macropinocytosis By Macrophages Contributes To The Pathogenesis Of Atherosclerosis"

photo of Archita Das

Top score in Best Poster Award at AHA 2019

Archita Das
Mentors: Drs. Masuko and Tohru Fukai

“Cu Importer CTR1 is a Redox Sensor That Promotes VEGFR2 Signaling and Angiogenesis”. 

 

Intramural Grants Program Award (IGP)

The purpose of the IGP is to assist Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University faculty members in competing successfully for major research funding from external sponsors. This award is administered through the Division of Sponsored Program Administration on behalf of the Office of Vice President for Research.

After a rigorous application review, this year VBC has racked up the awards!

Dr. Su

 

Huabo Su
"Novel Post-Translational Mechanisms Regulating Mitochondrial Homeostasis in the Adult Heart."

 

 

 

Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele

 

Eric Belin de Chantemele, Jennifer Sullivan & Wendy Bollag
"The Role of Aldosterone in High Fat Diet-Induced Hypertension in Males and Females.

 

 

 

Dr. Weintraub

 

Neal Weintraub & Lufei Young
"Investigator-Initiated Pilot Study to Evaluate Preclinical Effects of Nicotinamide Riboside in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm."

Dr. Brian Stansfield

Brian Stansfield Featured on WJBF

 

Watch the News Report on WJBF

Dr. Bruder do Nascimento  

2019 Stephanie Watts Career Development Award Finalist

Thiago Bruder do Nascimento, PhD 

As a finalist, Dr. Bruder do Nascimento will be attending the AHA Hypertension 2019 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, LA in September to compete for this coveted award. The Stephanie Watts Career Development Award was established to honor the advocacy work of Dr. Stephanie Watts, an active member of the Council on Hypertension, who has always advocated for the needs of the many trainees associated with the Council.

Bhupesh Singla, PhD

NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99)

Bhupesh Singla, PhD, 
Postdoctoral Fellow 
Lab: Gabor Csanyi, PhD


Submission Title: 
Regulation of Lymphangiogenesis by Thrombospondin 1

The purpose of this program is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers or clinician-scientists from mentored research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions, and to provide independent NIH research support during the transition that will help these individuals launch competitive, independent research careers.

Alec Davila, MD/PhDAluya Oseghale, PhDShirley Li, PhD 

VBC 2019 PHD Awardees

Alec Davila, MD/PhD
Thesis Defense “Microvascular dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction”
Mentor, Zolt Bag, PhD

Aluya Oseghale, PhD
Thesis defense “Therapeutic reactivation of fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease: development of a novel prodrug AN-233”
Mentor, Betty Pace, PhD


Xueyi “Shirley” Li, PhD
Thesis defense “Dissecting the Roles of Galectin-3 in pulmonary hypertension”
Mentor, David Fulton, PhD

 

Vascular Biology Students Have Major Showing at Graduate Research Day
Awards Ceremony

VBC Students outperform at Graduate Research Day

(Top row L-R) 
Esraa Sosha won 2nd prize in the "postdoctoral poster presentations".
Jessica Faulkner won 2nd prize in the "postdoctoral oral presentations".
Aluya Oseghale won the "Award for Excellence in Research" – Vascular Biology.
Dipankar Ash won 1st prize in the "postdoctoral poster presentations".
Kareem Abdelsaid and Alec Davila won the "Graduate School Award for Excellence in Research by a Graduate Student".

(Bottom row L-R) 
Zsuszanna Bordan won the "Ji Cheng Memorial Award for Excellence in Research by a biomedical sciences student in the early years of training".
Thiago Bruder do Nascimento won 3rd prize in the "postdoctoral oral presentations".

Huiping Lin

ATVB Conference Finalist for the
Junior Investigator Award for Women.

Huiping Lin
Mentor: Gábor Csányi, PhD

   

Peptide May Protect Kidneys From Ourselves

Dr Lucas and Team have research featured

Dr. Ralf Lucas and Lab

READ NEWS FROM TECHNOLOGY NETWORKS

Dr. Brian Stansfield

Dr. Brian Stansfield Elected President of the Southern Society for Pediatric Research

 

Read the Article in JAGWIRE

2018

Dr. Belin de Chantemele and Thiago Bruder do Nascimento, Postdoctoral Fellow

Winner of the American Heart Association - Council on Hypertension 2018 Onsite Trainee Poster Award

Thiago Bruder do Nascimento, Postdoctoral Fellow
Mentor: Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD

"Leptin Supplementation Restores Endothelial Function And Vascular Adrenergic Tone Via Direct Endothelial Mechanisms And Sympato-activation, Respectively, In A Mouse Model Of Congenital Lipodystrophy"

Alec Davila

American Heart Summer 2018 Predoc Award Winner

Alec Davila, MD/PhD Candidate

 

VBC Grad Student, Steve Haigh

Winner of  the "National Institutes of Health (NIH) F31 Fellowship Award"

Steve Haigh, Graduate Student
Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

Project Title: The hypoxia inducible factor: Galectin 3 signaling axis in pulmonary hypertension

Huiping Lin, PhD Candidate and Dr. Gabor Csanyi

American Heart Summer 2018 Predoc Award Winner

Huiping Lin, PhD Candidate
Menor: Gábor Csányi, PhD

ATVB Travel Award for Young Investigators

Ruth Caldwell, PhD.
 
 

New Target Could Help Protect Vision Following Optic Nerve Trauma.

Dr. Abdelrahman Y. Fouda, Dr. Ruth B. Caldwell and research associate Zhimin Xu's work featured in Jagwire.

Read more in Jagwire

Drs. Faulkner and Belin de Chantemele work in their lab

Drs. Eric Belin de Chantemele and Jessica Faulkner featured in Jagwire and on WJBF

 

Read more in Jagwire          Watch on WJBF news

Dr. Rudolf Lucas Distinguished Researcher Award   

Congratulations Dr. Rudolf Lucas of the Vascular Biology Center

Recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Researcher Award.

Gabor Csanyi Emerging Scientist Award

Congratulations Dr. Gabor Csanyi of the Vascular Biology Center

Recipient of the 2018 Emerging Scientist Award.

Drs. Thiago Bruder do Nascimento and Eric Belin de Chantemele

Getting leptin levels “just right” may provide cardiovascular protection

Drs. Thiago Bruder do Nascimento and Eric Belin de Chantemele featured in Jagwire,

Read more in Jagwire

Dr. Ruth Caldwell

Dr. Ruth Caldwell receives RO1

National Institute of Health Research Project Grant (R01) Award
Congratulations Dr. Caldwell

Dr. Belin de Chantemele

Sex Differences in Mechanisms of Hypertension Associated with Obesity

Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD interviewed at Joint Hypertension 2018 Scientific Sessions -
AHA Council on Hypertension | AHA Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease
American Society of Hypertension

See the interview (Friday Sept 7, 2018)

Dr. Rudolf Lucas

New Target is an Apparent Triple Threat to Pneumonia

Dr. Rudolf Lucas of the VBC featured on WJBF News.

See the TV News Interview          Read more in Jagwire

Dr. Yunchao Su and  Dr. Yuqing Huo

New Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment Target in the Bull's-eye

Dr. Yunchao Su and Dr. Yuqing Huo of the VBC featured.

Read the feature on Medical Xpress
Drs.  Eric Belin de Chantemele and Faulkner

Scientists work to protect obese, younger women from cardiovascular risk

Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele and Dr. Jessica Faulkner, postdoctoral fellow, featured in Jagwire

Read more on Jagwire

Weintraub Lab 

Just one high-fat meal sets the perfect stage for heart disease

Dr. Neal L. Weintraub, Dr. Julia E. Brittain and doctoral Student Tyler W. Benson in Jagwire.

Read the Jagwire feature

 

Jian Peng “JP”  Teoh, PhD

The VBC Congratulates our 2018 Ph.D. Award Recipients!

Jian Peng “JP”  Teoh, PhD

Thesis: “ß-adrenergic receptor/ß-arrestin-mediated microRNA maturation regulatory network: A new player in cardioprotective signaling.”

Mentor: Dr. Il-man Kim

-------

Huijuan “Emily” Dou, PhD

Thesis: “ADAM17 and age-related vascular dysfunction”Huijuan “Emily” Dou, PhD

Mentor: Dr. Zsolt Bagi

 

------

Esraa Shosha, PhD with Distinction

Thesis: “Neurovascular Degeneration Following Retinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury: Role of Arginase 2”Esraa Shosha, PhD

Mentor: Dr. Ruth Caldwell

Dr. Romero-Lucas

VBC's Dr. Romero-Lucas Receives Award

Maritza Romero-Lucas, MD, D. Sc, of the VBC, receives Pilot Study Research Program (PSRP) Award!

 

Anita Kovacs-Kasa, PhD

American Heart Postdoc Award Winner

Anita Kovacs-Kasa, PhD,
Postdoctoral Fellow

Project: "HDAC7 in MLCP-mediated endothelial barrier preservation"

Sponsor: Dr. Alexander Verin

 

Taysuya Aonuma, PhD

American Heart Postdoc Award Winner

Taysuya Aonuma, PhD,
Postdoctoral Fellow 

Project: "The axis of long noncoding RNA MIAT and microRNA-150 in acute myocardial infarction"

Sponsor: Il-man Kim

 

2017

Drs. Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai

Copper excess in diabetes hinders our ability to make healthy blood vessels

Drs. Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai of the VBC featured in Jagwire

Read more about the research on jagwire

Dr. Masuko Ushio-Fukai 

New target emerging for treating diabetes-related blood vessel damage

Dr. Masuko Ushio-Fukai featured in Jagwire

Read more about Dr. Ushio-Fukai's research

Dr. Bruder do Nascimento and Dr. Belin de Chantemele

Too little fat is bad for cardiovascular health and leptin therapy may help

Grant by Dr. Bruder do Nascimento and Dr. Belin de Chantemele featured in Jagwire.

Read more about their research

Dr. Liu and Dr. Huo

Likely new treatment target identified for Diabetic Retinopathy

Dr. Yuqing Huo and Dr. Zhiping Liu of VBC featured

 

Read about it in JagWire

Aluya Oseghale

American Society of Hematology
2017 Minority Graduate Student
Abstract Achievement Award

Aluya Oseghale

"Novel conjugates of butyrate and δ-aminolevulinate increase γ-globin gene expression and fetal hemoglobin synthesis in erythroid progenitors"

Mentor: Petty Pace 


Rodney Littlejohn, MD, PhD

BCVS Minority Travel Award recipient

Rodney Littlejohn, MD, PhD

Student in Huabo Su’s lab received the
2017 BCVS Minority Travel Award
at the AHA Scientific Session 2017 (11/11-15 in Anaheim, CA) - Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS)

Making Memories

Gather here, there & everywhere.

VBC Krawkow conference

29th Krakow Conference on Endothelium | Krakow, Poland 2024

29th Krakow Conference on Endothelium | Krakow, Poland 2024
2023 Genome Engineering

Genome Engineering- CRISPR Frontiers

Genome Engineering- CRISPR Frontiers
2022 White Coat Ceremony- David Stepp

Graduate School White Coat Ceremony

Graduate School White Coat Ceremony
AHA Vascular Discovery Conference 2023- Boston

AHA Vascular Discovery Conf - Boston 2023

AHA Vascular Discovery Conf - Boston 2023
APS- Anil Sakamuri and Ben Ogola

APS Summit – Long Beach, CA 2023

APS Summit – Long Beach, CA 2023
AU Day of Service

AU Days of Service

AU Days of Service
2022 Graduate Research Day events

Graduate Research Day Events

Graduate Research Day Events
AHA Scientific Sessions- Chicago 2022 attendees pose for camera

AHA Scientific Sessions | Chicago 2022

AHA Scientific Sessions | Chicago 2022  
Red dress and Hearts with the text "Go Red for women"

AHA GO RED VBC

AHA GO RED VBC 
VBC Heart Walk 2019

AHA Heart Walk | 2019

AHA Heart Walk | 2019
AHA CSRA CHAPTER 2018

AHA CSRA CHAPTER | 2018

AHA CSRA CHAPTER | 2018
Family Night

Family Night | Green Jackets 2016

Family Night | Green Jackets 2016 
VBC Retreat

VBC Retreat | 15th Anniversary | 09.2010

VBC Retreat | 15th Anniversary | 09.2010

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