AHA SURE MENTORS
(click on the mentor's name to view their profile and link to their lab)
Karen Stokes, PhD - (Principle Investigator and mentor)
The Stokes lab focuses on the intersection between inflammation and thrombosis in stroke (under diabetic conditions and in sickle cell disease), and on the role for redox regulation in vascular changes in Alzheimer's Disease.
J. Steven Alexander, PhD - (Co-Investigator and mentor)
The Alexander lab focuses on the brain and its blood supply and how changes in this contribute to Alzheimer's disease and stroke pathophysiology. We also believe this is involved in obstructive sleep apnea pathology. We are working on 3D bioprinting and have patents related to transplantation biology.
The Bhuiyan lab focus is to examine the role of autophagy in cardiac pathophysiology using integrated molecular, genetic, and functional approaches in genetically modified mice. My laboratory extensively uses cardiac-specific transgenic and knockout mouse models of heart failure including ischemia/reperfusion injury-, transverse aortic constriction- and genetic models (desmin related cardiomyopathy) of heart failure.
Dr. Bhuiyan Lab is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the complex and heterogeneous effects of social determinants on cardiovascular, psychiatric, and neurobehavioral health outcomes. By integrating cutting-edge methodologies, the lab aims to bridge the gap between population health and computational innovation. A significant focus of the lab lies in leveraging advanced statistical and machine learning models on image optimization and processing techniques to develop robust disease progression models. These efforts are targeted toward unraveling critical insights into cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathy and heart failure, neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, and substance use disorders involving methamphetamine and cocaine. Utilizing machine learning and deep learning approaches, Dr. Bhuiyan Lab strives to push the boundaries of precision medicine, aiming to deliver transformative solutions that improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
The Disbrow lab studies Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease, specializing in neuropsychological and motor testing, and functional brain imaging
Chris Kevil, PhD
The Kevil lab focuses on hydrogen sulfide and its enzymes in the regulation of vascular remodeling, inflammation in diabetes and autophagy.
The Kolluru lab focuses on Hydrogen sulfide and its enzyme Cystathionine gamma-lyase signaling in aging and pro-aging effects of Methamphetamine in cardiovascular and neurovascular pathology.
The Orr lab studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, the most common cause of heart attacks and strokes and the leading cause of death worldwide. Using vascular cell culture, mouse models, and patient samples, our work identifies novel pathways contributing the buildup of lipids, inflammatory cells, and fibrous tissue in the vessel wall with the ultimate goal of reducing clinical complications of atherosclerosis.
The Park lab long-term goal is to understand the detailed mechanisms of vascular diseases including cardiovascular disease, neurovascular disease, and tumor immunity with a special emphasis on transcriptional regulation and epigenetics. We are also interested in direct cell reprogramming to generate autologous endothelial cells for cell therapy. Further, we are studying novel therapeutic options for vascular disease treatment.