The Stokes lab has three key areas of interest, all related to cerebrovascular disease and the microvasculature: 

1)    Diabetes is a significant risk factor in the clinical outcome of cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke. Elevated blood glucose and reactive carbonyl species (RCS) such as methylglyoxal (MG) are characteristic features of diabetes, and can target and modify proteins, leading to vascular inflammation and thrombosis. We are investigating the role of MG in both the enhanced risk for stroke and the worse outcome following stroke in diabetes. By manipulating components of the MG elimination pathway we will determine if targeting one or more steps could provide protection against stroke in diabetics. We are currently funded for a pilot grant to translate this concept to diabetic stroke patients.
2)    The second project focuses on the role for hydrogen sulfide in Alzheimer’s Disease. Currently we are characterizing the changes in reactive species in the brain and plasma in Alzheimer’s Disease mice, in parallel with ongoing human studies on changes in plasma sulfides during Alzheimer’s Disease.
3)    The most recent project is centered around the fact that sickle cell disease causes inflammation, and inflammatory cells such as neutrophils may in turn promote the thrombotic complications of sickle cells disease, for example stroke. Thus, we are investigating the role of neutrophil-derived reactive oxygen species in cerebral thrombosis
 

Muhammad Huq, PhD

Selected Publications

1. Disbrow E, Stokes KY, Ledbetter C, Patterson J, Kelley R, Pardue S, Reekes T, Larmeu L, Batra V, Yuan S, Cvek U, Trutschl M, Kilgore P, Alexander JS, Kevil CG. Plasma hydrogen sulfide: A biomarker of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Alzheimers Dement. 2021 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12305. Pubmed PMID: 33710769. Online ahead of print.
2. Barzegar M, Wang Y, Eshaq RS, Yun JW, Boyer CJ, Cananzi SG, White LA, Chernyshev O, Kelley RE, Minagar A, Stokes KY, Lu X-H, Alexander JS. Human placental mesenchymal stem cells improve stroke outcomes via extracellular vesicle-mediated preservation of cerebral blood flow. EBioMedicine, 2021;63:103161. PMID: 33348090; PMCID: PMC7753936
3. Wang B, Yee Aw T, Stokes KY. N-acetylcysteine attenuates systemic platelet activation and cerebral vessel thrombosis in diabetes. Redox Biol. 2018 Apr;14:218-228. PubMed PMID: 28961512; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5619994. 
4. Wang B, Aw TY, Stokes KY. The protection conferred against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the diabetic brain by N-acetylcysteine is associated with decreased dicarbonyl stress. Free Radic Biol Med. 2016 Jul;96:89-98. PubMed PMID: 27083477; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5079522. 
5. Khoretonenko MV, Brunson JL, Senchenkov E, Leskov IL, Marks CR, Stokes KY. Platelets, acting in part via P-selectin, mediate cytomegalovirus-induced microvascular dysfunction. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2014 Dec 15;307(12):H1745-53. Doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00201.2014. Epub 2014 Oct 17. PubMed PMID: 25326535; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4269701.

Complete List of my Published Work in MyBibliography: LEARN MORE
 

Currently: We are excited to be funded for several projects and periodically look for another member of our team to investigate cerebrovascular diseases – we’d love for you to join our team. Click on the “Positions” tab for further information. We also have a couple of outstanding undergraduate students who were with us over the summer and plan to return. If you are a talented undergraduate student who is interested in researching cerebrovascular disease, check with us to see if we have a spot for you.

July 2021: Dr. Stokes (as Co-PI with Dr. Wayne Orr) was awarded an NIH T32 grant to establish the MTCP program (Multidisciplinary Training in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology). 

June 2021: Dr. Stokes served as ad hoc reviewer for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Mentored Clinical and Basic Science (MCBS) Study Section.

May 2021: Dr. Stokes was selected as Co-Chair for the AHA Career Development Award Vascular 2 Committee.

August 2020: Dr. Stokes was selected to serve a term as Microcirculatory Society Co-Chair for the Kaley Award Committee.
 

Post-doctoral Fellows

We are not currently recruiting Post-Doctoral Fellows at this time.

Graduate Students

Graduate students interested in conducting research in the Stokes lab should review the current laboratory research directions and contact Dr. Stokes at karen.stokes@lsuhs.edu.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

We are not currently hiring any additional undergraduates. However, positions can become available during the summer.

Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows

The Stokes laboratory has a number of research projects available for any Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows. Those who are interested should contact Dr. Stokes directly at karen.stokes@lsuhs.edu.