l gabby navar symposium - medicine.tulane.edu report...for 2019, medical students annie bell and...
TRANSCRIPT
L GABBY NAVAR
SYMPOSIUM
30 Years of Excellence at Tulane!
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mission Statement .......................................... 3
1. Report From the Chair ............................. 4
2. Highlighted Events ................................... 6
3. Education ............................................... 12
Education Mission ................................... 12
Undergraduate Student Education ........ 12
Medical Student Education .................... 12
Graduate Student Education .................. 15
PhD Graduate Program ............................ 15
MS Graduate Program ............................. 16
4. Research ................................................ 22
Research Mission ................................... 22
Interdisciplinary Programs ...................... 23
Physiology Student Research Awards ..... 24
Summer Student Research ...................... 25
5. Visiting Scholars Program ...................... 28
6. Future Directions .................................... 36
7. Faculty and Staff .................................... 38
8. Department Publications ........................ 68
9. Abstract & Oral Presentations ................ 71
10. Financial Information .......................... 79
11. Outreach Program Participation .......... 86
12. Departmental & Other Events ............. 88
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 3
MISSION STATEMENT
Physiology is the study of the mechanisms responsible for homeostasis in living organisms. As
such, the discipline of physiology focuses on normal functions of the body, and it provides the
foundation upon which we expand our knowledge and understanding of how life processes are
deranged by diseases, aging, and environmental stresses. Scientific investigations range in
scope from molecular and intracellular mechanisms to the functional integration of various organ
systems. As an essential component of medical education and biomedical research, physiology
contributes to our understanding of normal function that is a prerequisite to understanding
pathophysiologic processes, disease conditions and their treatment. Accordingly, the
department is fully committed to the principles of medical education and research, which are the
transmission of knowledge through teaching, the acquisition of knowledge through research,
and the dissemination and preservation of knowledge through publication.
The mission of the Department of Physiology is to:
provide a superior teaching resource in the Physiological Sciences to undergraduate,
medical and graduate students
achieve and maintain the highest measures of competitive research
provide service to the Medical School and University in an exemplary manner
Vision
“Integrating Life Sciences from Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms to the Organism”
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 4
1. REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
This annual report covers the activities and developments that occurred from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. During this period, the Department of Physiology made progress in educational activities, research funding and further development of faculty in our department.
The major highlight for this period was the ‘L. Gabby Navar Symposium’, which commemorated my 30 years at Tulane as Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology. I was impressed by the participation of many former trainees who traveled to New Orleans at their own expense. It was a truly enjoyable and rewarding experience. Clearly, this is one of the most memorable experiences of my professional career. I extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Minolfa Prieto, Amelia and Debbie and others, who worked so hard to make this symposium a reality.
Our faculty continued to contribute to numerous activities and groups within Tulane. Notably, Dr. T. Cooper Woods served as vice chair of the General Medical Faculty during the year and Dr. Majid and Hering-Smith served on Tulane Senate representing the School of Medicine. Other faculty were also elected to several Tulane Committees as noted in other parts of this report.
The “Warren R. Bourgeois, III, MD, and Usha Ramadhyani, MD, Student Research Endowed Fund” entered its 6th year and has been particularly important since the AHA program for support of summer research fellowships for medical students was discontinued. Nevertheless, the Bourgeois award was able to support two students in 2018; Jennifer Hong, supervised by Dr. Minolfa Prieto and Stacy Yanofsky supervised by Dr. Ryosuke Sato. For 2019, medical students Annie Bell and Stephanie McNamara will receive the Bourgeois-Ramadhyani award. In addition, students had an opportunity to submit a research proposal for summer funding from the BMS ASPIRE grants. Three physiology student projects were selected including, Mardeen Karim, mentored by Dr. Jackson-Weaver; Annie Bell, mentored by Dr. Navar; and Stephanie McNamara, mentored by Dr. Zsombok. We have four DeBakey Scholars; Anna Hodges, mentored by Dr. Abdulnour-Nakhoul and Alexander Cao, mentored by Dr. Wu and Robert Drury and Jacob Packer both mentored by Dr. Jackson-Weaver. Mathew Hennrikus, a T2 medical student, is also a DeBakey Scholar recipient working under the supervision of Dr. Minolfa Prieto. Matthew will continue as a DeBakey Scholar until 2022. Three students will return to continue their projects from last summer and we have 7 volunteers. As part of their research experience, students who perform research during the summer will have an opportunity to submit their work for presentation at various scientific meetings including the Southern
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 5
Regional Meeting of the SSCI/AFMR that is held in New Orleans and the Annual Tulane Health Sciences Research Days.
With regard to our educational mission, the faculty continued to excel in their efforts to provide outstanding learning experiences to our medical students. These efforts were recognized by the Owl Club during their annual awards banquet. Our Human Physiology Course, under the directorship of Dr. Kenneth Mitchell, was nominated for the Best T1 Course, Dr. T. Cooper Woods was nominated for Best T1 Professor, and both Dr. Andrea Zsombok and Dr. Norman Kreisman were nominated for the Best T1 CBL Facilitator Award with Dr. Kreisman winning the award. Congratulations to all faculty who participated in teaching the medical students, graduate students and the undergraduate students in biomedical engineering.
We had a robust visiting scholars program intermingled with seminars from Tulane faculty. The highlight of our seminar program was our annual Mayerson-DiLuzio Memorial Lectureship. This year’s lecture was presented by Dr. R. Clinton Webb from the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia. More information about this lectureship along with a list of all our visiting speakers can be found under the Visiting Scholars Program section and in our website https://medicine.tulane.edu/departments/physiology/seminar-series.
Our master’s program has continued to grow with 19 students enrolled for the 2018-2019 academic year. The students did very well, with 18 graduating with an MS degree in May. We feel that our program has helped them become more competitive for medical school or other professional programs. Approximately 80% of our previous graduates have received acceptance letters to medical or other professional schools.
Competition for NIH funding continues to be fierce. The CoBRE that supported the HRCE for 15 years has been in its second no cost extension period and will be officially completed in July, 2019. I am very proud of the efforts of our faculty to obtain additional funding in order to make up for the loss of CoBRE support. Congratulations to Dr. Jean-Pyo Lee for receiving her first NIH RO1 in December 2018. However, it is vital that all of us recognize the urgency and make extra efforts to seek out all possible sources of extramural funding to be as competitive, creative and innovative as possible. Faculty who already have grant funding should strive to obtain additional grants from NIH and other sources. The success of the department depends on our ability to garner new research funding so we must increase our intensity and scout out societies, associations, foundations, VA, DoD and the pharmaceutical industry as well as the various funding programs from NIH. I encourage the faculty to band together to develop group projects and apply for program project grants and other multi-investigator projects. As I have previously stated, our extramural salary release funds provide us with the flexibility to carry out many discretionary activities including our educational programs and visiting scholars program.
I believe that our intense efforts will continue to reap benefits in the coming years. With everyone’s cooperation and strong effort, we will succeed and continue to grow in stature and gain further national recognition.
L. Gabriel Navar, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Physiology Director, Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Hypertension and Renal Biology Co-Director, Tulane Hypertension and Renal Center of Excellence
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 6
2. HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
30 Years of Excellence at Tulane
L. Gabriel Navar, Professor and Chair of Physiology, celebrated 30 years
of excellence at Tulane with the ‘L. Gabby Navar Symposium’. Numerous
trainees noted below participated at their own expense to commemorate this
event, which took place on Friday, October 5, 2018.
Welcome Remarks/Introduction
Dr. Minolfa Prieto, Tulane University
Department of Physiology
Romancing the Macula Densa, From Humble Beginnings to Master
Regulator
Dr. P. Darwin Bell, University of Alabama
Department of Medicine
A Little Bedtime Reading: My first reading assignment from Dr. Navar
Dr. Matthew Walker, III, Vanderbilt University
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Navar & Mitchell: An Unexpected 30 Year Journey by a Texan and a Scot
Dr. Kenneth D. Mitchell, Tulane University
Department of Physiology
Renal autoregulation to NO regulation to NO-cytokine interaction: a
pleasant surfing for Majid-Navar through NO green wave
Dr. Dewan S.A. Majid, Tulane University
Department of Physiology
The Legend of Texican Navar
Dr. Rudy Ortiz, University of California at Merced
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 7
Eicosanoid drugs for a complicated pathway developed by a crazy
scientist
Dr. John D. Imig, Medical College of Wisconsin
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
The Benefits of Being Mentored by the Energizer Bunny
Dr. Lisa Harrison-Bernard, LSUHSC
Department of Physiology
Intratubular Angiotensin II: A lifetime passion for an Aussie and a big
easy
Dr. Jia ‘Joe’ L. Zhuo, University of Mississippi
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Molecular biological studies conducted with the greatest physiologist:
Elucidating the intracellular swamp!
Dr. Ryosuke Satou, Tulane University
Department of Physiology
The miracle of being the grandchild of a Thai movie: AT1R versus P2XR,
science or fiction?
Dr. Supaporn ‘Tom’ Kulthinee, Tulane University
Department of Physiology
Coming Full Circle: 'Fancy Equations' and Mathematical Modeling of
Renal Hemodynamics
Owen Richfield, Tulane University
Department of Physiology
Paying the Toll: TLR4 in vascular function
Dr. Edward W. Inscho, University of Alabama
Department of Medicine
Closing Remarks
Dr. L. Gabriel Navar, Tulane University
Department of Physiology
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 8
Physiology on Capitol Hill
Dr. Andrea Zsombok, as a member of the APS Science Policy
Committee, attended meetings on Capitol Hill along with US Senators
to advocate for biomedical research.
New Adjunct Appointment
Dr. Olan Jackson-Weaver, joined Tulane University in November 2018
as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery with an Adjunct
appointment in the Department of Physiology.
New Adjunct Appointment
Dr. Gholam Ali is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Heart and
Vascular Institute and joined the Physiology Department as an Adjunct
in November 2018.
NIH Grant for Alzheimer’s Research
Dr. Andrea Zsombok received a $334,000 supplement to her current
National Institute of Health grant that supports research into the brain's
role in diabetes. Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for all
dementias, including Alzheimer's disease.
NIH RO1 Grant Received
Dr. Jean-Pyo Lee received an NIH RO1 grant award from the National
Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Her project was
entitled, “Combination treatment of ischemic stroke with perlecan DV
and neural stem cells.”
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 9
Best Student Poster Presentation Award
Owen Richfield, a graduate student, received the “Best Student Poster
Presentation Award” during the 2019 BMES/FDA Frontiers in Medical
Devices Conference that was held in Washington, DC from March 19-
21, 2019.
Annual Mayerson-Di Luzio Lectureship
Dr. R. Clinton Webb, Herbert Kupperman Chair in Cardiovascular
Disease, Medical College of Georgia, presented the 2019 Mayerson-Di
Luzio lecture entitled, “Mitochondria-derived DAMPs as a trigger of
innate immune responses and vascular inflammation in hypertension”.
30th Annual Health Sciences Research Days
Adrien Molinas, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Zsombok’s lab, received
the award for Research in Neuroscience for his poster entitled, “Insulin-
dependent decrease of excitatory neurotransmission in preautonomic
PVN neurons is reduced in diet-induced obese mice”.
2019 Experimental Biology Awards Received
Dr. Bruna Visniauskas, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Prieto’s laboratory,
received the Juan Carlos Romero and Postdoctoral Research
Recognition Award from the Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis
Section at the Experimental Biology meeting.
Dr. Adrien Molinas, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Zsombok’s laboratory,
received the Mead Johnson Award from APS Endocrinology and
Metabolism section at the Experimental Biology meeting.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 10
NIH Grant Received
Owen Richfield, a graduate student, received a Research Fellowship
Award from NIH-NIDDK for 2 years for his project titled “Development
of a computational biomechanics model of the glomerulus to assess
risk of mechanical stress-induced glomerular injury in conditions of
reduced afferent arteriole vasoconstrictive response.”
2018 Outstanding Staff Award
Rose Grace, accountant, received the 2018 Outstanding Staff Award
for the Department of Physiology.
Owl Club Awards
Dr. Norman Kreisman received the T1 Best CBL Facilitator Award at
the Owl Club Awards Banquet that was held on May 10, 2019.
AHA Career Development Grant Received
Dr. Olan Jackson-Weaver, was awarded a 3-year American Heart
Association Career Development Grant. His research will focus on the
role of protein arginine methylation in the regulation of angiogenesis.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 11
Milestone Service Awards
FACULTY
Dr. L. Gabriel Navar, Professor and Chair, celebrated 30 years of
service at Tulane.
Dr. Kenneth D. Mitchell, Professor, celebrated 30 years of service at
Tulane.
STAFF
Alex Castillo, Laboratory Research Technician, celebrated 15 years of
service at Tulane.
Weijian Shao, Medical Research Specialist, celebrated 20 years of
service at Tulane.
We thank them for their dedication to the Department and Tulane!
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 12
3. EDUCATION
Education Mission
Physiology contributes to our essential understanding of normal function that is a prerequisite to
understanding pathophysiologic processes, disease conditions and their treatment. The department is
fully committed to the principles of medical education, which are the transmission of knowledge through
teaching, the acquisition of knowledge through research, and the dissemination and preservation of
knowledge through publication. Accordingly, the Department is united in its commitment to the
performance of its teaching responsibilities and scholarly analysis which are incorporated into the Medical
and Graduate programs.
Undergraduate Student Education
The Physiology Department continued to have responsibility for the Quantitative Physiology course
taught to the undergraduate biomedical engineering students under the direction of Dr. Ming Li. This
well-received lecture-and-lab course covers aspects of Cellular Physiology, Neurophysiology, Muscle
Physiology, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology
with an emphasis on quantitative measurement and analysis by using the tools of Matlab programming
and calculus. The Quantitative Physiology also binds to an additional course, Experimental Physiology,
which offers a hands-on measurement of physiological activities using animal models or computer
simulating models in steps synchronized with the proceedings of Quantitative Physiology lectures. The
course also emphasizes medical application of physiology knowledge for diseases in the class lectures and
lectures using robot patients. It is anticipated that this course will serve as a conduit for the department
to have greater exposure to undergraduate students at Tulane and to recruit graduate students to the
department.
Medical Student Education
The Human Physiology course is a key component of the core integrated curriculum for first-year
medical students. Our course provides students with a clear exposition of the physiological principles,
concepts and mechanisms which form the basis of medical practice and the understanding of
pathophysiology. Dr. Kenneth D. Mitchell served as Course Director. In 2018-19, Human Physiology
was covered in 55 lectures organized within seven thematic modules:
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Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 13
1. Concepts in Cellular Structure and
Biomechanics
5. Renal and Body Fluids Physiology
2. Musclo-Skeletal Physiology 6. Gastrointestinal Physiology
3. Cardiovascular Physiology 7. Endocrine & Reproductive Physiology
4. Pulmonary Physiology
Each Module culminated in an examination which included questions from all four major courses
participating in the Integrative portion of the Phase 1 year (Biochemistry, Genetics, Histology, and
Physiology). Student performance was evaluated by the seven module exams followed by two NBME
board-style shelf exams utilizing questions from the physiology question bank at the NBME.
There was strong emphasis on clinical applications and integration of materials across courses throughout
our course. Each lecture was prefaced with a clinical vignette, which requires the students to utilize
basic principles to solve patient-centered problems. Additionally, the first page of each handout
contained specific learning objectives to guide students’ learning. We also offered four two-hour case-
based learning (CBL) sessions featuring clinical cases. Again this year, included three team based learning
(TBL) sessions in which students were provided reading material ahead of the TBL session. The students
then met in the DeBakey Classroom and answered questions based on the reading material, both
individually and as a group (of approximately 6 students). As with the previous academic year, we
incorporated into the course two T4 medical student-led CBL sessions in which small groups of students
(approximately 8-10 T1 students) discussed clinical cases related to either the gastrointestinal system or
the female endocrine/reproductive systems. Furthermore, we offered three self-directed learning (SDL)
experiences and time for independent study to allow medical students to develop the skills of lifelong
learning. Self-directed learning involves medical students’ self-assessment of learning needs; independent
identification, analysis, and synthesis of relevant information; and appraisal of the credibility of information
sources. The SDL involves an integrated, multidisciplinary module using the Tulane SDL standard fillable
form and follows the best practices for evidence based learning. Course directors, module directors and
faculty decide on a topic for SDL. Specifically, students are provided with a clinical case which is specific
and testable, requiring more than textbook knowledge, that students can learn on their own. Students
are expected to utilize source material with the aid of the library staff. Free time is provided in the
schedule for both individual self-study and group sessions, usually two to three hours for self-study
preparation and one to two hours for group discussion and feedback. Clear expectations with specific
objectives are provided for the SDL sessions. Objectives are specific enough that students know what is
expected of them. The learning objectives and the Tulane SDL form are posted on Canvas at least two
weeks ahead of scheduled group session. Students are to complete the first three steps before the group
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 14
session and upload as a pdf to Canvas prior to class. Completion of this form confirms that the student
has identified their own learning issues and attempted to identify their own resources, and gives an
opportunity for feedback on the adequacy of the process. SDL attendance is mandatory and participation
constitutes (3%) of students’ grades. Completion of the first three steps of the SDL form is required for
attendance in the group SDL sessions. SDL sessions are not recorded and can’t be completed at a later
date. Students are only allowed to miss SDL sessions for very serious reasons. At the group session,
faculty facilitators check to see that each student has brought to the session the completed SDL form
with reasonable evidence that the student has completed it independently. Group session is student-led
and facilitator guided. The time in the group sessions is carefully allotted. At the beginning of the session,
students review the overall objectives. The teams choose a captain for the SDL session. The captain
will open a new Tulane fillable SDL form and label it with the TBL/SDL team number, and include his/her
e-mail as contact for the group session. The captain for this SDL is responsible for sharing information
with their team mates and uploading the form to Canvas when it has been completed by the group. The
fillable SDL form is attached as a separate file in the course syllabus.
Two additional modules were offered in conjunction with the Foundations in Medicine and Clinical
Diagnosis Courses, one on heart sounds and the other on breath sounds. These sessions integrated
clinical medicine and physiological principles utilizing standardized patients, the Harvey simulator,
electrocardiography, and a hands-on approach to physical diagnosis. These sessions were aided by T4
students who served as preceptors for the T1 students. Dr. Jessica DeBord and Ross Klingsberg
presented clinical correlation lecture-demonstrations as preludes to each of the cardiology and
pulmonology sessions. Students rated these sessions very highly in their evaluations, particularly for
introducing realistic clinical scenarios and for aiding in the application of physiological principles and
concepts to clinical medicine.
The Office of Medical Education continued the process of inviting clinicians, several of whom have
experience writing questions for the NBME, to aid basic science course directors and faculty in evaluating
their questions. As a result, many questions were re-written to begin with a brief clinical vignette and
to otherwise place them into proper NBME format. Additionally, input from the clinicians was very
helpful in assessing the clinical relevance of the basic science questions. As a result, some questions were
eliminated because they were testing isolated facts or obscure clinical conditions that were not seen
even by specialists. However, we are continually developing a bank of new exam questions which are in
the NBME format.
Physiology faculty members and the Human Physiology course consistently have received accolades from
the students over the years and this year was no exception. Individual faculty members that were
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 15
nominated by the Owl Club for outstanding teaching were T. Cooper Woods, Norman R. Kreisman,
and Andrea Zsombok. Dr. T. Cooper Woods was nominated for Best Professor and Drs. Norman
Kreisman and Andrea Zsombok were nominated for best CBL Facilitator, and Physiology (Dr. Kenneth
D. Mitchell, Course Director) was nominated as Best First Year Course. Dr. Norman Kreisman won the
Best CBL Facilitator Award. The Cardiovascular Module (Dr. Craig Clarkson, Module Director) was
named as Best Module. In all, we are extremely proud of our faculty’s accomplishments and recognition
from the students. All of the physiology instructors are to be congratulated for their dedication to the
education mission of the Department and Institution, and their consistently outstanding teaching
performance.
Graduate Student Education
As a result of the MS graduate program, the Department has increased the number of graduate student
courses to include a complete course in medical physiology, cellular and molecular physiology and
advanced courses in renal, cardiovascular, signal transduction, membrane physiology and endocrine
physiology. Additional courses were added to cover topics in experimental physiology and translation
topics. These courses are well received by the students.
PhD Graduate Program
The Department of Physiology prepares graduate students for careers in many aspects of the biomedical
sciences. The educational goal is the development of the scientist-teacher who is prepared to conduct
independent, competitive research and to participate in the design and the delivery of current concepts
in Physiology. In addition to training students for the Ph.D. in Physiology, the faculty also serves as an
important resource for the interdisciplinary programs of Molecular and Cell Biology, Neuroscience as
well as the interdisciplinary programs in Bioinnovations and in Aging Studies.
The graduate program is supported by extramural funding, graduate school stipends, tuition waivers and
mentor’s research grants. Each student is expected to obtain extramural or mentor research support
for the dissertation portion of their training. The seminar course is a requirement each year. Registration
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 16
for dissertation research is allowed after the graduate student has presented their prospectus and had it
approved by their committee.
During the academic year 2018-2019, the graduate program had 5 graduate students enrolled in the PhD
program. 1. Sarah Abdullah, working with Dr. Olan Jackson-Weaver; 2. Sierra Butcher, a graduate
student in the Neuroscience Program, working on her thesis project with Dr. Andrea Zsombok; 3. You
Lu, a graduate student in Aging Studies, working on his thesis project with Dr. Ming Li and James Hyman;
4. Owen Richfield, a graduate student in the Departments of Mathematics and Physiology, working on
his thesis project with Drs. Ricardo Cortez and Dr. L. Gabriel Navar; and 5. Haoran Yang, working with
Dr. Hongju Wu.
Ph.D. Graduate
Students
Date of
Matriculation
Mentor(s)
Sarah Abdullah June 2019
BMS Program
Dr. Olan Jackson-Weaver
Sierra Butcher May 2015
Neuroscience Program
Dr. Andrea Zsombok
You Lu August 2016
Aging Studies Program
Dr. Ming Li
Dr. James Hyman
Owen Richfield August 2017
Bioinnovations Program
Dr. L. Gabriel Navar
Dr. Ricardo Cortez
Haoran Yang June 2019
BMS Program
Dr. Hongju Wu
MS Graduate Program
The Master of Science (MS) in Physiology Program is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree (BS
or BA) in a chemical/physical/biological discipline or pre-med program, seeking advanced training in the
physiological sciences, typically in preparation for admission to a professional medical program (e.g.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 17
Medical School, Dental School, Physician Assistant program, Pharmacy School, Veterinary Medicine
School), or a Ph.D. program. This program is also helpful for preparation to work in academia, industry
or biotechnology. The MS students undertake a rigorous series of advanced courses in Physiology,
including Medical Terminology, Medical Physiology, Cardiovascular Physiology, Translational Physiology
(I & II), Renal Physiology, Membrane Physiology and Experimental Physiology. The students also take
courses in cell biology, biochemistry or neurosciences offered by other departments. The Medical
Physiology course is a six hour credit course that involves thirteen faculty members who present topics
in Homeostasis and Membrane Physiology, Neurophysiology, Cardiovascular Physiology, Pulmonary
Physiology, Renal Physiology, Gastrointestinal Physiology, Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology.
Translational Physiology is a two-semester course that was created which aims to apply recent advances
in molecular and integrative physiology to clinical situations. It is specifically designed for graduate
students who are eager to translate the basic concepts they have learned in biomedical sciences into the
understanding of clinic diseases. The students analyze specific clinical cases and correlate their
knowledge in physiology with the diagnosis, treatment and complications of the diseases. Necessary
assistance in pharmacology and medicine is provided by the instructors to assure depth of analysis in the
clinical aspects. We also invite faculty from the department of Medicine and other clinical departments
to present case studies in the course. Our
program enrolled 20 students this academic
year. Last year we thought it was important to
recognize the students with the highest grades
in our program with an “Honors in Physiology”
award. This year this award was presented to
two students, Victoria Way and Giacomo
Adoncecchi. We feel that our program has
been instrumental in helping students become
more competitive for admission to medical
school or other professional programs. On
average, about 84% of our graduates from our
first three years (2015-2017) have received
acceptance letters to medical or equivalent
schools. Students that graduated in 2018 are
receiving responses to their applications now and we have been notified that at least 40% have already
been accepted. Congratulations to all our students and we wish them great success in their future
careers!
‘Honors in Physiology ’ awards were presented to two Physiology master students for the 2018-2019 academic year, Victoria Way and Giacomo Adoncecchi.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 18
0
5
10
15
20
25
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Physiology MS Students Enrolled/Graduated
Enrolled Graduated
77.70%
75%
100.00%
Percent of Physiology MS Graduates Who Applied and were Admitted to Medical School
or Equivalent Programs
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 19
Physiology Master Students Enrolled 2018-2019
Giacomo Adoncecchi
Norris Akpan
Mazin
Almashhadani*2
Reetom Bera
Dylan Dixon
Christine
Edomwande
Christopher
Gonzaba
John Hattier**
Romel Holmes, Jr
Haley Koenig
Nicholas Litsky
William Loupe
Joonwoo Nho†
Jared Rebman
Tina Reddy
Yu (Cindy) Sun
Sean Tran
Nicole Vasilakos
Jester Vasquez
Victoria Way
*2 2-year program in year 2 (Graduated in Dec. 2018); **Returned to complete Spring semester; †Medical leave
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 20
Physiology MS graduate courses offered during this fiscal year are listed in the table below.
2018 FALL COURSES
Course Code
Title CRN SCHEDULE Required/
Elective
Credit
GPSO-7175-01
Medical Terminology 80970 Online Required 3
GPSO-6010-01
Medical Physiology 81058 M/W/F 2:00-3:45 PM Required 6
GPSO-7910-01
Seminars in Physiology 39850 M 12:00-1:00 PM Required 1
GPSO-7350-01
Translational Physiology I 91597 F 10:00-11:45 AM Required 2
INTD-6010-01
Responsible Conduct of Research
83436 TH 3:00-4:00 PM Recommended 0
BMSP-6050-01
Advanced Cell Biology 91435 T/TH 9:30-11:00 AM Elective 3
NSCI-7110-01
Graduate Neuroscience 36928 T/TH 11:00-12:15 PM Elective 3
GBCH-
7500-01
Human Medical Cellular
Biochemistry
80516 T/TH 3:30-5:00 PM Elective 5
GPSO-7180-0
Selected Topics (Physiology
Basis of Disease) 93642 TH 1:00-3:00 PM Elective 2
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 21
2019 SPRING COURSES
Course
Code
Title CRN Required/
Elective
Schedule Credit
GPSO-6060-01
Experimental Physiology 29477 Required Thur 1:00-4:00 PM
2
GPSO-7910-01
Seminar Physiology 30546 Required Mon 12:00-1:00 PM
1
GPSO-7560 -01
Signal Transduction & Hormone Action
29478 Required Fri 2:00-4:00 PM
2
GPSO-7350-01
Translational Physiology II 35386 Required Tues 1:00-3:00 PM
2
GPSO-7600-01
Vascular Physiology 29475 Required Wed 10:00 – 11:30 AM Fri 8:30 – 9:55 AM
3
GPSO-6250-01
Membrane Physiology 29476 Elective Tues 3:30-430
2
GPSO-7180-0
Reg in Dept
Selected Topics
(Physiology Basis of Disease)
37659 Elective N/A 3
GPSO-7320-01
Renal Physiology 30294 Elective Tues/Thur 9:00-11:00 AM
3
GPSO-7980-0 Reg in Dept
Research Laboratory 37658 Elective 6 hours/week 3
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 22
4. RESEARCH
Research Mission A major challenge to the Department of Physiology is to attract and retain a nationally competitive
faculty. Through the years, the department has achieved success in recruiting highly talented new
investigators who have been able to obtain research support after they joined the Physiology faculty.
This recruitment has been aided by the salary initiatives undertaken by the Administration which
helped to make salaries in basic science departments more competitive. The reward and incentive
programs also help to encourage increased grant submissions by our faculty. Continued recruitment
and faculty retention are linked to the Administration’s increased commitment to these initiatives
and rectification of the well-recognized deficiencies in start-up packages, availability of modern
research space and salaries in comparison to institutions in the highest tier of research. Although
the department was markedly downsized after Katrina, recruitment efforts during the past few years
have partially restored our faculty numbers. We have a talented group of mid-career faculty
members who have been successful in obtaining extramural research support. Through their efforts
we reached a milestone with all of our post-Katrina faculty holding at least 1 NIH RO1 grant and
some holding more than one major research award. This external research support has helped to
make up for the major loss due to completion of the CoBRE grant. The great success by our faculty
has provided hope for a sustained funding environment even though the 15 years of CoBRE support
came to an end.
The CORE facilities of the Hypertension and Renal Center of Excellence are chaired by several
faculty and revenue is generated by the core facilities, especially the Molecular and Analytical Core
and the Phenotyping Core. A major objective for the coming year is to increase the revenue
generated by providing core services at competitive prices to both Tulane and non-Tulane research
groups and investigators.
During the period of this report, sources of extramural funding included grants from NHLBI,
NIDDK, NIGMS, LACaTs, American Heart Association, Novartis and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The
faculty published 29 articles, book chapters, and reviews during 2018-2019, most of which
represented collaborative efforts among physiology department members or with collaborators
from other departments or institutions.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 23
Interdisciplinary Programs Many of our faculty members are involved in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs in Molecular
and Cellular Biology and Neurosciences. The interdisciplinary graduate program in Bioinnovation
was established by the Biomedical Engineering and other Biomedical and Science Departments. This
training program is under the direction of the chair of BME Department, Don Gaver, and is funded
by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and
Research Training) mechanism. The NSF training grant provides financial support and educational
resources to PhD students who conduct translational research in the Schools of Science &
Engineering and Medicine with the goal of developing innovative and cost-effective solutions to
complex biomedical problems. Additional programmatic links with the Schools of Business and Law
and the FDA further prepare trainees for careers as leaders at the interface of academia and
industry. We were very fortunate this year to have one student, Owen Richfield, from this very
competitive program join our department under the mentorship of Dr. Navar.
In addition, several of our faculty participate in the new undergraduate and 4+1 Master’s Degree
programs in Neuroscience. The Neuroscience group has been reorganized with the establishment
of the “Brain Institute” which will be of great benefit to neurophysiologists in our department. Dr.
Navar is the Co-Director of the Tulane Hypertension and Renal Center of Excellence (THRCE)
which brings together investigators from Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Pharmacology and
Physiology in the School of Medicine, from the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public
Health and Tropical Medicine and from the Biomedical Engineering Department.
Another important program is the NIH-funded BIRCWH (Building Interdisciplinary Research
Careers in Women’s Health) program. The overall goal of this career development award is to
help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate disciplines to
address the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. BIRCWH supports
mentored research career development of junior FACULTY members who engage in
interdisciplinary basic, translational, behavioral, clinical, and or health services research relevant to
women’s health. Where appropriate, fellows use both sexes to better understand the influence of
sex as a variable in health and disease. Another program includes the NIH-NIGMS funded BUILD
(Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) Program at Xavier University, which was designed to
study and implement effective approaches to engaging and retaining students from diverse
backgrounds in biomedical research careers. These and other programs contribute to the overall
environment in our department and the School of Medicine.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 24
Physiology Student Research Awards
The Department of Physiology has two research awards that are presented to eligible graduating medical students. These awards are named after two former Physiology Chairs, Dr. Hymen S. Mayerson and Dr. Nicholas R. DiLuzio, who had an impact on physiology research.
HYMEN S. MAYERSON AWARD
This award is in honor of Hymen S Mayerson, who joined the Department of Physiology
at Tulane University in 1926. He remained here with increasing responsibilities and
rank serving as Professor and Chair from 1945 until his retirement in 1965. This award
is presented to a graduating medical student who has demonstrated excellence in
scholastic achievement and who has made significant accomplishments in physiology
research.
NICHOLAS R. DI LUZIO AWARD
This award was established by Dr. Samuel L. Lassoff in memory of Dr. Nicholas Di Luzio,
who served as Professor and Chair of Physiology from 1968 until his death in 1986. This
award is presented to a graduating medical student who has demonstrated excellence in
physiology research and shows promise for a career as a medical scientist.
These awards are presented at the Ivy Day awards ceremony, which is the annual awards program for the School of Medicine held prior to graduation. On May 17, 2019, Andrew Curnow, mentored by Dr. Prieto, received the Hymen Mayerson award and Krishna Pandya, mentored by Dr. Pandey, received Nicholas Di Luzio award. Congratulations to the recipients for their outstanding research achievements.
HYMEN S. MAYERSON AWARD NICHOLAS R. DI LUZIO AWARD
Andrew C. Curnow Krishna Pandya
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 25
Summer Student Research
During the summer of 2018, the Department hosted eight summer research students. Drs. Majid,
Prieto, Sato, Lee, and Zsombok served as mentors. Students were supported by various funds
including the Bourgeois Family Endowment, the DeBakey Scholar Program, and Programs at LSU
Health Sciences Center and School of Veterinary Medicine.
2018 Summer Research Students
Marco Acosta Mentors: Dr. Minolfa Prieto
Sponsor: LSUHSC Undergraduate Scholarship
Research Project: Effects of prorenin receptor on the epithelial sodium channel in
M-1 cells
Peace Ekpo Mentor: Dr. Dewan Majid
Sponsor: LSU School of Veterinary Medicine - Louisiana Biomedical Research
Network (LBRN) Program
Research Project: Regulation of TNF-α receptors by nitric oxide in renal proximal
tubular cells
Jennifer Hong Mentors: Dr. Minolfa Prieto
Sponsor: Bourgeois Endowment
Research Project: Effects of Nebivolol and Valsartan on plasma and urine levels of
soluble prorenin receptor in hypertensive patients
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 26
David Le Mentor: Dr. Jean-Pyo Lee
Sponsor: DeBakey Scholar Program
Research Project: Effects of diabetes on vascular disease
Jose ‘Fernando’ Villamizar Mentor: Dr. Minolfa Prieto
Sponsor: Universidad led Norte de Santander, Columbia Scholarship
Research Project: Effect of prorenin receptor activation in the production of TNF-α
and IL-6 in macrophages
Cassidy Werner Mentor: Dr. Andrea Zsombok
Sponsor: Medical Student Volunteer
Research Project: Identification of subsets of neurons projecting from the
hypothalamus to both pancreas and interscapular brown adipose
tissue
Stacy Yanofsky Mentors: Dr. Ryo Sato
Sponsor: Bourgeois Endowment
Research Project: Role of Ang II in the development of iPSC-derived human kidney
organoids
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 27
For the summer of 2019, the Department will have 10 student researchers that will be supported
by BMS ASPIRE grants, the Bourgeois Family Endowment, DeBakey Scholars program and host
institutional funding. In addition, we will have 6 volunteer researchers. Drs. Solange Abdulnour-
Nakhoul, Dewan Majid, Olan Jackson-Weaver, Kailash Pandey, Minolfa Prieto, Ryosuke Sato, T.
Cooper Woods, Hongju Wu, Andrea Zsombok, and L. Gabriel Navar are serving as mentors.
Incoming 2019 Summer Research Students
Annie Bell, ASPIRE
(Dr. Navar)
Alexander Cao
Zhang, DeBakey
Scholar
(Dr. Wu)
Matthew
Hennrikus,
DeBakey Scholar
(Dr. Prieto)
Anna Hodges,
DeBakey Scholar
(Dr. Abdulnour-
Nakhoul)
Jennifer Hong,
Research Grant
(Dr. Prieto)
Mardeen Karim,
ASPIRE
(Dr. Jackson-
Weaver)
Stephanie
McNamara, ASPIRE
(Dr. Zsombok)
Chikaodilil Osuji,
LSU LBRN
(Dr. Majid)
Stacy Yanofsky,
Research Grant
(Dr. Sato)
Volunteer Research Students
Robert Drury,
Volunteer
(Dr. Jackson-
Weaver)
Maribeth Harlan,
Volunteer
(Dr. Jackson-
Weaver)
Mark Legendre
Volunteer
(Dr. Jackson-
Weaver)
Rudy Neustadt,
Volunteer
(Dr. Woods)
Valeria Noguera,
Volunteer
(Dr. Pandey)
Jacob Packer,
Volunteer
(Dr. Jackson-
Weaver)
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 28
5. VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Dr. Clinton Webb received his PhD from the University of Iowa in 1976, and completed a
Physiology Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department of Physiology at the University of Michigan in
1978. Dr. Webb served as a research associate at the Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen in Antwerp,
Belgium from 1978 – 1979. He then returned to the University of Michigan where he remained for the
next 20 years rising to the rank of Professor. In 1999 he joined the Medical College of Georgia where
he served as the Robert B. Greenblatt Professor of Endocrinology and as Chair of the Department of
Physiology. Dr. Webb was named the Herbert S. Kupperman Chair in 2006 serving in the Departments
of Physiology, Surgery and the School of Graduate Studies. In 2011, Dr. Webb was named a Regents ’
Professor, a recognition representing the highest academic status bestowed by the University System of
Georgia. He also holds a secondary appointment as Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Over the years, Dr. Webb’s research has been funded by several agencies including the American Heart
Association (AHA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and various pharmaceutical companies. He
is currently Director and Project Leader on a multi-million dollar grant from NHLBI and PI on a Pilot
Program grant from NKDDK. His research interests include the physiology of vascular smooth muscle
with emphasis on vascular reactivity in hypertension and diabetes, penile and clitoral erection in sexual
dysfunction, mechanisms of bladder dysfunction in diabetes, cellular and subcellular mechanisms of
contraction and relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, adrenergic neurotransmission in blood vessels,
and intercellular communication between smooth muscle cells. His lab was among the first to establish
the importance of Rho kinase, or ROCK, in erectile dysfunction and his work has helped explain how
2019
Mayerson-Di Luzio
Annual Lectureship
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 29
reactive oxygen species, which stimulates ROCK, may affect
vascular function. His lab also was among the first to identify a
role for damage-associated molecular patterns and innate
immune responses in hypertension.
Dr. Webb is a member of numerous societies including the
American Physiological Society’s Cardiovascular and Cell and
Molecular Physiology Section and he chairs the Awards
Committee of the Cardiovascular Pharmacology Division,
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics. He served as Chair of the Council for High Blood
Pressure Research, and as a member of the association’s
Ethnicity and Gender Working Group, Strategic Planning
Committee and International Mentoring Program. Dr. Webb
also served as Chair of the Association of Chairs of
Departments of Physiology, 2009-2010. He has published over
450 peer-reviewed papers and scientific reviews. Dr. Webb
serves on numerous editorial boards and is associate editor for
the American Journal of Hypertension and Pharmacological
Research. He is also a Guest Editor for the journal,
Hypertension, and a Contributing Editor to the Journal of the
African Association of Physiological Sciences.
Dr. Webb has received several awards including the inaugural
Bodil M. Schmidt-Nielsen Distinguished Mentor and Scientist
Award from the American Physiological Society’s Women in
Physiology Committee in 2004. He received the Carl J. Wiggers
Award from the cardiovascular section of the American
Physiological Society in 2012 and the AstraZeneca Award from
the International Society for Hypertension in 2012. In 2013, he
received the Irvine Page and Alva Bradley Lifetime Achievement
Award from the Council for Hypertension, AHA. Dr. Webb
received the 2015 Georgia Regents Research Institute Lifetime
Achievement Award. In 2016, he became a fellow of the
American Society of Hypertension and in 2017 received the
Distinguished Research Award from the Graduate School at
Augusta University. Dr. Webb gave the Inaugural Sibley
Hoobler Lecture in 2017 at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center,
University of Michigan. Most recently, he received the 2018
Excellence Award in Hypertension Research from the Council
on Hypertension of the AHA.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 30
Extramural Physiology Seminars
July 23, 2018
Licy Lorena Yanes Cardozo, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS
“Cardiometabolic complications in Polycystic Ovary
Syndrome”
September 24, 2018
Joint Physiology & Medicine
Conference
Noah Shroyer, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Medicine
Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
“Plasticity and quiescence of intestinal stem cells:
implications for regeneration and cancer”
October 15, 2018
Jointly Sponsored by THRCE (8:30am)
Joint Physiology & Medicine
Conference (12:00 noon)
James D. Stockand, PhD
Professor, Cellular & Integrative Physiology
Director, Pathobiology of Occlusive
Vascular Disease Fellowship Program
University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio, TX
“Enabling Curiosity to Expand Scientific Expertise” (8:30am)
“Disruption of Purinergic Control of Sodium
Excretion Intrinsic to the Distal Nephron Causes
Salt-Sensitive Hypertension” (12:00 noon)
Department of physiology seminar series
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 31
October 22, 2018
David E. Stec, PhD
Professor
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Director of Transgenic Core
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi
“Bilirubin and Biliverdin Reductase in Metabolic
Disease”
December 3, 2018
Joint Physiology & Medicine
Conference
Harry Pothoulakis, MD
Director: Basic Research, UCLA Center for
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Professor of Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
“Substance P – Induced exosomal regulation of
colitis”
January 28, 2019
Rafael Rubio, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA.
Universidad Autonoa de San Luis
Potosi, San Luis, Mexico
Visiting Professor
Department of Physiology
Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, LA
“The Epigenetics: Linking Salt to the Brain Renin-
Angiotensin System”
February 11, 2019
Joint Physiology & Medicine
Conference
Yingzi Cong, PhD
Professor of Medicine
Department of Microbiology &
Immunology and Pathology
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX
“Host-microbiota interaction in
regulation of inflammatory bowel diseases”
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 32
February 18, 2019
Robert L. Hester, PhD
Professor
Department of Physiology, Data Sciences &
Orthopedic Surgery
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS
“Mathematical Modeling for Understanding
Physiological Responses”
February 25, 2019
Antoine Chaanine, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Adv HF & Transplant Cardiology
Department of Cardiovascular Disease
Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Rochester, Minnesota
“Novel Insight in the Pathophysiology of Heart
Failure. Role of the FOXO3a-BNIP3 Pathway”
March 5, 2018
2018 Mayerson-DiLuzio
Lectureship
Jointly Sponsored THRCE
R. Clinton Webb, PhD
Kupperman Chair in Cardiovascular Disease
Regents’ Professor
Department of Physiology
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia
“Mitochondria-derived DAMPs as a
trigger of innate immune responses
and vascular inflammation in
hypertension”
March 18, 2019
Special School Wide Grand
Rounds
W. Marcus Lambert, PhD
Assistant Dean of Diversity and Student Life
Assistant Professor of Education Research in
Medicine
Weill Cornell Medicine
New York City, NY
“Inclusive Excellence: Breaking down barriers to
success and recognizing your greatest potential”
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 33
March 25, 2019
Heather A. Drummond, PhD
Professor
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Director, Confocal Microscopy Facility &
Director, Histology Core
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi
“Vascular Degenerins in Renal Hemodynamics”
April 1, 2019
Joint Physiology & Medicine
Conference
Arthur Beyder, MD
Consultant, Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine & Physiology &
Biomedical Engineering
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, MN
“The molecules and mechanisms that makes
irritable and slow colons”
April 29, 2019
Qinglin Yang, PhD
Professor of Pharmacology
Cardiovascular Center of Excellence
LSU Health New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
“Targeting metabolic dysfunction in the diseased
heart”
June 24, 2019
Jointly Sponsored THRCE
Krisztian Stadler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor-Research
Oxidative Stress and Disease Laboratory
Pennington Biomedical Research Center-LSU
Baton Rouge, LA
“Mitochondrial substrate overload and chronic
kidney disease”
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 34
Extramural THRCE Conferences
August 23, 2018
Chih-Hong Wang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences & Technology
National Chiao Tung University
Hsichu, Taiwan
“Inhibition of renin angiotensin system causes severe anemia due to hypothyroidism”
October 15, 2018*
Jointly Sponsored by
Physiology (8:30am)
Joint Physiology &
Medicine Conference (12:00
noon)
James D. Stockand, Ph.D. Professor, Cellular & Integrative Physiology
Director, Pathobiology of Occlusive
Vascular Disease Fellowship Program
University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio, TX
“Enabling Curiosity to Expand
Scientific Expertise” (8:30am)
“Disruption of Purinergic Control of Sodium Excretion Intrinsic to the Distal Nephron Causes Salt-Sensitive Hypertension” (12:00 noon)
November 15, 2018*
Jointly Sponsored by the
Department of Medicine
1:00PM
Jonathan Himmelfarb, MD Professor, Division of Nephrology
Director, Kidney Research Institute
Director, Center for Dialysis Innovation
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
“Hypertension, renal disease and cancer”
T.H.R.C.E.
Tulane Hypertension & Renal Center of Excellence
Extramural THRCE Conference Speakers
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 35
May 16, 2019*
Jointly Sponsored by the
Department of Pediatrics
2:00PM
Leif Oxburgh, DVM, PhD Faculty Scientist III (Full Professor),
Maine Medical Center Research Institute
Center for Molecular Medicine
Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Scarborough, Maine
“Understanding the niche that controls nephron specification”
June 13, 2019
Snezana Petrovic, MD Assistant Professor
Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
Wake Forest School of Medicine
“Dietary acid load, kidney function and disability in older adults: Current evidence and future directions”
June 24, 2019
Jointly Sponsored by
Physiology
Krisztian Stadler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor-Research
Oxidative Stress and Disease Laboratory
Pennington Biomedical Research Center-LSU
Baton Rouge, LA
“Mitochondrial substrate overload and chronic
kidney disease”
*Not on our regular scheduled day and/or time
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 36
6. FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Research The main priority for the coming years is to further improve the research funding base of the
Department by having all faculty seek and obtain additional extramural funding. The department
will make maximum effort to assist all faculty members in their efforts to obtain and hold
extramural research support from NIH and other funding agencies. In view of the challenging
times, funding opportunities from many sources must be sought including industry, AHA, ADA,
NSF, VA and any other agency, foundation or society that provides funding for our areas of
research. Department policy encourages sabbatical research leave for qualified faculty to
provide an opportunity to review current research trends and to maintain up-to-date modern,
competitive research programs. Faculty are also encouraged to present their work at national
and international meetings and publish their studies in highly regarded peer reviewed journals.
Get your finding to print as soon as possible. Data are not lie wine, they don’t get better with
age.
Special Aims for the New Fiscal Year:
Enhance and expand our ongoing studies and future research with more translational
approaches to compete for NIH funding. Increase the number and depth of our publications.
Assist all faculty in obtaining and increasing their extramural research funding by enhancing
infrastructure support and procuring recently developed instrumentation.
Transition from relying on the financial support provided by the COBRE and encourage
optimization of each research group by synergistic collaborations with other faculty members
within and outside of our department. Encourage multi-PI and program project proposals.
Continue efforts to improve faculty salaries to make them competitive with those at our peer
institutions.
Integrate individual research focus areas of our faculty (cardiovascular, renal, endocrine and
neurophysiology) into larger cross-disciplinary research programs.
Enhance the funding of the Hypertension and Renal Center of Excellence by recruiting a
well-recognized senior investigator who is robustly funded with 2 RO1 or more grants as the
new Director of the Center and also increase the interdisciplinary profile of the Center as a
University-wide Center of Excellence supported at the University level.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 37
Education The education priorities for the department will be to enhance the quality of the Physiology
course lectures and improve recruitment of both MS and PhD graduate students. Emphasis will
be placed on the development of stimulating medically relevant interactive sessions as we move
towards an integrated curriculum. The Department will seek better ways to participate in the
combined program in biomedical sciences so that we can recruit superior graduate students.
We also plan to develop or improve graduate student courses in techniques of molecular
physiology, principles of molecular transport, renal physiology, and microcirculatory physiology.
The overall effort in graduate student recruitment has been improving because of increased
stipend amounts and the decision to cover mandatory fees. A special task force has been
appointed to review our current procedures in graduate student recruitment and to design and
implement mechanisms that will increase the number of highly competitive graduate students in
our program. The improvement of our graduate student recruitment procedures is a very high
priority for the department. Faculty should consider applying for training grants in specific areas
of interest to NIH institutes.
The Masters in Medical Physiology is a post-baccalaureate program designed for students with
a bachelor degree (BS or BA) in a Chemical/ Physiological/ Biological discipline or pre-medical
program. Students seeking advanced training in the physiological sciences, typically in
preparation for admission to a professional medical program, PhD program, or planning to work
in academia, government, industry or biotechnology sectors will benefit from this program.
Future Goals:
Improve the Human Physiology Course by adding more interactive teaching methods
(e.g., clicker questions) and tutorial sessions during lectures and having tutorial sessions
to instruct the faculty in these methods.
Increase the number of nationally recognized visiting scientists presenting at our seminar
program.
Improve the courses developed for our MS in physiology program.
Service and Administrative Responsibilities:
Increase community involvement by developing programs for involvement of high school
and undergraduate students in Physiology research and by sponsoring STEM related
activities and workshops in K-12 schools and undergraduate colleges.
Encourage all faculty to volunteer for elected positions of the General Medical Faculty
and University –wide positions.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 38
7. FACULTY AND STAFF
Physiology Organizational Structure
The organizational structure consists of the chair and eleven standing committees. Faculty input for
departmental decisions is solicited at monthly faculty meetings.
Biomedical Engineering &
Undergraduate Liaison Committee
Library and Educational
Aids/Website Committee
Molecular Core/ Facilities & Space
Committee
Medical Education Committee
Funding Opportunities Committee Neuroscience Interest Group
Graduate Studies Committee Promotions and Tenure Committee
Happiness and Well Being Committee Renal & Vascular Workshop Committee
Seminar Committee
There were 13 faculty members during 2018-19 fiscal year. These faculty are complemented by the
additional 9 adjunct faculty whose primary appointments are in other departments or other
institutions. There are 8 adjunct faculty who hold a PhD degree and have their primary appointment
in a clinical department who are listed under our regular faculty and are given equal consideration
as regular faculty in departmental governance. The distribution of primary faculty ranks is listed
below:
5 professors 11 associate professors 4 assistant professors 1 instructor
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 39
Research Focus
Mechanisms responsible for regulating renal hemodynamics, glomerular filtration rate and sodium excretion; experimental hypertension; renin-angiotensin system
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Honored with the “L. Gabby Navar
Symposium” to celebrate 30 years as Chair of the Department of Physiology at Tulane. The symposium speakers consisted of past and present trainees, many of whom now hold prominent positions. The symposium was held on October 5, 2018.
Grant Awards Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC:
28431754DIA4010 (PI) Role of Kidney production of AGT in the reduction of BP by SGLT2 Inhibition under diabetic and non-diabetic conditions (12/18/15-09/30/18)
NIH - NIGMS: 1P30GM103337 (PI)
Translational Research in Hypertension and Renal Biology (08/01/12 – 07/31/19)
NIH - NHLBI–University of Virginia:
Subaward No GB10298-01A1(PI) MD-INMD-EN Renal AT2 Receptors in Hypertension (04/01/16-03/31/21)
NIH – NIDDK - NRSA: 1F31DK121445 PI: Owen Richfield, Graduate Student (Mentor) Predoctoral Fellowship entitled, “A Computational Fluid Dynamics Model of Glomerular Microvascular Mechanics” (07/01/18-06/30/20)
CLB (Carol Lavin Bernick) Faculty Grant (PI)
Project with Postdoctoral Fellow, Supaporn Kulthinee entitled, “Interactions between purinergic receptors and angiotensin II receptors in regulating renal microcirculation in angiotensin II hypertension” (05/01/2018-06/30/2019)
CLB (Carol Lavin Bernick) Faculty Grant (PI)
Project with Graduate Student, Owen Richfield entitled, “A computational biomechanics model of the rat glomerulus to evaluate risk of mechanical insults in
L. Gabriel Navar, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair Director, COBRE;
Hypertension and Renal Center of Excellence
University of Mississippi, 1966 .
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 40
pathophysiological hemodynamic conditions” (05/01/2019-06/30/2020)
Invited Lectures
Invited Speaker –Medical College of
Wisconsin, Cardiovascular Center, Wisconsin. “Regulation of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system in hypertension and diabetes” September 26, 2018.
Invited Speaker – Texas Tech University,
Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas. “The intrarenal renin-angiotensin system in development off hypertension” February 12-13, 2019.
Invited Speaker - 2nd Pan American Physiological Sciences Congress that took place in Havana, Cuba from May 27-31, 2019.
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards American Journal of Hypertension, 1999 -
present American Journal of Medical Sciences, 2006-
present; Guest Editor, 2010 Annals of Clinical and Experimental
Hypertension, 2013-present BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences,
International Editorial Adviser, 2016-present
Current Hypertension Reviews, 2016-present Enliven: Nephrology and Renal Studies, 2018-
present Hypertension, Consulting Editor, 2006 –
present International Journal of Cardiology:
Hypertension, 2018-present International Journal of Nephrology and
Renovascular Disease, 2009 - present Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 2012 -
present Journal of American Society of Hypertension,
2007 – 2018 Physiology International, 2001 - present
Review Service
Abstract Reviewer:
American Heart Association American Physiological Society:
Undergraduate Research Summer Program
Grant Reviewer: Dutch Kidney Foundation
Journal Reviewer: American Journal of Physiology: Renal
Physiology Clinical Science Hypertension Journal of the American Society of
Nephrology Journal of Physiology Kidney International Nature Communications Science Translational Medicine
Other Professional Positions and
Services
FAHA, American Heart Association FAPS, American Physiological Society FASN, American Society of Nephrology FASH, American Society of Hypertension Member, APS Distinguished Physiologist
Committee, 2018-2020
Dr. Cowley (left) and Dr. Navar (right)
during his visit to MCW
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 41
Research Focus
Gastroenterology; cellular ion transport;
intracel lular pH regulation; ion
transport in epithelia
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
Tulane Bridge Research Award –
2018-2019 (Co-PI) Ammonia
Transport and Acid-Base
Homeostasis” , $30,000
DCI, Paul Teschan Research Fund,
(Co-PI) 02/01/19-01/31/21,
“Ammonium transport in acidosis and
chronic kidney disease” $120,000
National and International
Prominence
Review Service
Journal Reviewer: Experimental Physiology
Journal of Rare Diseases Research &
Treatment
World Journal of Gastroenterology
Other Professional Positions
and Services University level Chair, VA IACUC Committee
Member, Tulane Medical School
Admissions Committee
Member, Tulane IACUC Committee
National level
Fellow, AGA
Member, American Physiological Society
Solange Abdulnour-Nakhoul, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor American University of Beirut, 1983
Research funded by VA grant
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 42
Research Focus
Neuroscience: Central control of
cardiovascular functions
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
Received an NIH -LSU SPARC
(Stimulating Peripheral Activity to
Relieve Conditions) grant. This award
is part of the initiative with
Pennington Biomedical Research
Center. The subaward is entit led,
“Genetically based neuro -modulation
of adipose t issue function ”
NIH NHLBI 122829 (role: PI) , 08/15/2015-05/31/2019 Tit le: Sympathetic control and hypertension via brainstem cannabinoid s ignaling
National/International
Prominence
Review Service
Journal Reviewer:
Hypertension Journal of Physiology (London)
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Departmental Level
Member, Masters ’ Program
Committee , 2014-Present
University Level
Executive Board Member, Tulane
University, Brain Insti tute , 2016-
Present
Director, PhD Program in
Neuroscience, Tulane University,
School of Science and Engineering
Admission Committee, Neuroscience
PhD Program, 2017-Present
Tulane University, School o f
Medicine, Grievance Committee,
2017-2020
National Level
2018-Pres The American
Physiological Society, Chair for the
Award Section of the Central Nervous
System Committee
2018-Pres The American
Physiological Society, Career
Opportunities in Physiology
Andrei Derbenev, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russia, 1999
Research funded by NHLBI
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 43
Research Focus
Regulation of renal tubule epithel ial transport and acid-base homeostasis via physiological , molecular and metabolic mechanisms. Our current emphasis is on regulation of ci trate transport and metabolism Awards – Honors – Recognition
FASN, Fellow of the ASN
Grant Awards
DCI Paul Teschan Career Development Grant “Pleiotropic Effects of Citrate Transporter NaDC1” (Role: PI), 02/01/2018-01/31/2019 $60,000/yr
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
AJP: Renal (2013-present)
Review Service
Journal Reviewer:
Ad Hoc Reviewer for Journal of Diabetes and
Its Complications
Ad Hoc Reviewer for American Journal of
Medical Sciences
Ad Hoc Reviewer for Canadian Journal of
Physiology and Pharmacology
Ad Hoc Reviewer for BMC Journal of Nutrition
AJP Renal
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Kidney International
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Departmental level Medicine/Nephrology Core Director Tulane University Department of Medicine
Departmental Safety Representative Department of Physiology Graduate Studies
Committee & MS Program Department of Physiology Funding
Opportunities Committee
University level Tulane SOM Deans’ Faculty Advisory
Committee Tulane University SOM Faculty Senator
(Elected) 2017-2020 Director of Tulane SOM Freezer Farm
National level
American Physiological Society Renal Section Secretary (Elected) 2016-2019
Southern Society for Clinical Investigation Councilor, Elected 2018-2021
SSCI Governance Committee (Elected) 2016-2019
American Society of Nephrology Kidney Stars Mentor 2015-
Teaching: Physiology Department
Huma n Phys iol ogy : PBL
M edic al Physiol ogy -R ena l Phys iol ogy
Tra ns port
R ena l Phys iol ogy – Proxima l Tubul e
DOM A ging C enter
A G ST 7060 Topic s in Aging R es ea rc h
A G ST 7040 A ging a nd the Kidney
Kathleen S. Hering-Smith, MS, PhD, FASN
Adjunct Associate Professor Tulane University, 2004
Research funded by NIDDK, COBRE, LA CaTS
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 44
Research Focus
We study several aspects of endothelial
cel l biology, including endothelial cel l
damage during shock and trauma and
the role of Ca2+ signaling modalit ies in
the regulation of angiogenesis .
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
American Heart Association Career Development
Award: 19CDA34660287
“Arginine methylation of IP3 receptors in NFAT
signaling and angiogenesis”
PI: Olan Jackson-Weaver
3 years, $231,000
04/01/2019- 03/31/2022
Other Professional Positions
and Services
2007-present Member, American
Heart Association
2007-present Member, American
Physiological Society
LAB MEMBERS
Sarah Abdullah
G r a du a te S tu de n t
Robert Drury
S u mm e r M e d i ca l
S tu d en t
Maribeth Harlan
S u mm e r M e d i ca l
S tu d en t
Mardeen Karim
S u mm e r M e d i ca l
S tu d en t
Mark Legendre
S u mm e r Und e rg r adu a te
S tu d en t
Jacob Packer
S u mm e r M e d i ca l
S tu d en t
Olan Jackson-Weaver, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor University of New Mexico, 2012
Research funded by AHA
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 45
Research Focus
Neurophysiology; electrophysiological
and metabolic relationships in brain
t issue; Pathophysiology of epilepsy and
anoxia/ischemia
Awards – Honors – Recognition
2019 Tulane University SOM Owl Club,
T1 Best CBL Facili tator Award
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Co-Director, Tulane Medical School T2-Course: Brain, Mind, and Behavior
Chair, Promotions and Tenure Committee, Department of Physiology, Tulane University
Faculty Co-Advisor for the T4 UpTOBAT
Elective Course
Norman R. Kreisman, Ph.D.
Professor Vice-Chair
Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1971 Research funded by Developmental Funds
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 46
Research Focus
Molecular biology and aspects of
genetics and reproduction in non -human
primates
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
NIH/OD-U42 OD010568 (James Blanchard, PI)
Role: Co-Investigator
Maintenance of an SPF Macaque Breeding Colony
for AIDS Research, 08/09/01 – 01/31/21
NIH/U24 OD011109/OD-U42 OD024282 (Rudolf
Bohm, PI) Role: Co-Investigator
Tulane National Primate Research Center, AIDS
SPF Breeding Colony Maintenance, 09/30/02 –
06/30/21
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
Associate Editor: Reproduction, Fertility,
Development
Review Service
Journal Reviewer:
Journal of the American Association for
Laboratory Animal Sciences
Journal of Medical Primatology
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Chair , Tulane University IACUC
Advisory Committee
Member and Alternate Chair , TNPRC
IACUC
Member, National Primate Research
Centers Consortium “New Model
Development Working Group”
Member, National Primate Research
Centers Consortium “Genetics and
Genomics Working Group”
Hans Michael Kubisch, Ph.D.
Associate Professor University of Guelph, Canada, 1992
Research funded by NIH
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 47
Research Focus
Molecular mechanisms governing the
regulation of natriuretic peptide
receptor expression
Invited Lectures
Physiology Seminar Series, Tulane
University SOM, “ Inhibit ion of HDAC
activity Blocks NF-ΚB and Suppresses
the Renal Inflammation and Fibrosis in
Npr1 Haplotype Mice ” December 17,
2018.
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Departmental Level
2014-Pres Member, Facil it ies and
Space Committee
University Level
Senior Division Judge, New Orleans
Science and Engineering Fair , Tulane
University Lavin-Bernick Center, New
Orleans , LA, Feb 20, 2019
Judge, Tulane University Health
Sciences Research Days , New Orleans,
LA, March 18-19, 2019
National Level
2007- Pres: Member, The American
Heart Association (AHA)
2006- Pres: Member, The American
Society for Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
Judge, 22st annual American Society
for Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology Undergraduate Poster
Competition, San Diego CA, Saturday,
Apri l 6, 2019
Prerna Kumar, Ph.D.
Instructor Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, 2004
Research funded by NHLBI
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 48
Research Focus
Stem cell therapies involving molecular biology,
biochemical techniques and stem cell
transplantation that target the central nervous
system.
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Tulane Bridge Research Award – 2018-2019,
(Role: PI) “Combination of Antithrombotic Drug
and Neural Stem Cells for Treating Stroke”
NIH NINDS R01NS110370-01 (Role, PI)
“Combination treatment of ischemic stroke with
perlecan DV and neural stem cells” (Dec 2018-Nov
2023)
National and International
Prominence
Moderator and Poster Professor, International Stroke Conference (ISC), Vascular Cognitive Impairment: Moderated Poster Tour, Feb. 7. 2019 Editorial Boards
AJP Heart Circ Physiol , 2019 -Present Scienti fic Reports, 2018 -Present Experimental Neurology, 2018 -
Present; Guest Editor 2019 -present
Review Service
Abstract Reviewer:
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and
Vascular Biology (ATVB/PVD) Scientific
Sessions, 2019
International Stroke Conference (ISC),
2019
Grant Reviewer:
American Heart Association (AHA) Grant
Peer Review Study Section (Vascular
Endothelial Biology basic), Spring, 2019
NIH, Brain Injury and Neurovascular
Pathologies (BINP) Study Section,
Chicago, Oct 2018; Feb 2019; June, 2019
Journal Reviewer:
American Journal of Physiology: (AJP)-Cell Physiology, 2018, 2019
American Journal of Physiology: (AJP)-Heart Circulatory Physiology, 2018, 2019
Journal of Applied Physiology, 2018 Journal of Neurophysiology, 2019 Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2018,
2019 Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 2019
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Interviewer: Tulane Medical Student Admissions, 2013-present
Seminar Committee: Department of Physiology, Tulane University, 2018
Jean-Pyo Lee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1998
Research funded by Salem Science Charitable Trust, Departmental Funds
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 49
Research Focus
Development of antitumor/hypoglycemic
drugs and ion channels and diseases
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Distinguished Professor of Kunming
University, China
Invited Lectures
Conference speaker — Science and Technology Association, Kunming, Yunnan, China. “New Type of Drug for Treatment of Type -2 Diabetes” , July 2018
Invited Seminar Speaker – College of Medicine of Inner Mongolia, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia , China . “T-type Ca Channel Inhibitors For Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Melli tus”, June 2019
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
• Asia-Pacific Journal of Medicine Editor 2018-present
• Clinical Medicine Research Editor 2018-present
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Department Level
Director, Graduate Student Program, Department of Physiology, Tulane University SOM
University Level
Director, Quantitative Physiology Course, Tulane University
Member, BME & Undergraduate
Liaison Committee, Tulane University
Ming Li, PhD
Associate Professor Director of Graduate Studies
Director of Quantitative Physiology Course University of Iowa, 1989
Research funded by Development Funds, LBOR
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 50
Research Focus
Renal hemodynamics and renal function;
integrative role of endothelium derived
vasoactive substances; salt sensitive
hypertension
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Organized the National Convention of
Bangladesh Medical Association in
North America (BMANA) held in New
Orleans , LA, July 2018 as the
Chairman of the Convention
Welcoming Committee. BMANA is a
professional organization of
Physicians from Bangladesh origin in
North America (USA & Canada)
Grant Awards
Tulane CLB (Carol Lavin Bernick)
Faculty Grant (PI)
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
Al-Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences,
India, 2007-present
Anti-oxidant Journal – Special Edition Editor, 2016 -present
Bangladesh Physiology and Pharmacology Journal , 2008 -present
BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences, India , 2015 -present
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 2006-present
Pakistan Journal of Physiolog y, 2008-present
Sylhet Osmani Medical Col lege Journal , Bangladesh 2013-present
Review Service
Abstract Reviewer: AHA Hypertension Conference, 2019
Grant Reviewer: American Heart Association Grant Review
Committee (Cardio-Renal, Basic Science Committee # 2)
Journal Reviewer: American Journal of Physiology: Heart
and Circulatory Physiology
American Journal of Physiology: Renal, Fluid & Electrolyte Physiology
American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative Physiology & Biophysics
American Journal of Hypertension
Dewan SA Majid, MD, PhD
Professor University of Leeds, U.K. (PhD), 1989
University of Chittagong, Bangladesh (MD), 1978 Research funded by NHLBI, Bridge Funding, NIH CoBRE
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 51
Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Hypertension
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Departmental level Chair, Physiology Seminar Series
Committee, Department of Physiology
Member, Physiology Graduate Students Program Committee
University Level University Senator International Level Appointed as Visiting Pr ofessor of
Medicine in the B. M. Patel Medical Col lege, BLDE University, Bi jayapura, Karnataka, India, 2017 -2019
Chair , Welcoming Committee that
organized the National Convention of
Bangladesh Medical Association in
North America (BMANA) held in New
Orleans from 26-29 July, 2018.
Dr. Dewan Majid during a preparatory
meeting with officials and hotel
management at the Sheraton Hotel for
the BMANA Convention.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 52
Research Focus
Renal physiology; renin angiotensin
system; hypertension
Awards – Honors – Recognition
2019 Tulane University SOM Owl Club
o Nominated for T1 Best Course
National and International
Prominence
Review Service
Abstract Reviewer: AHA; AHA Council on Hypertension
Grant Reviewer:
AHA Southeast Affiliate, Cardiorenal 1 Committee, 2013-2017
Journal Reviewer:
American Journal of Physiology
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Course Director, Human Physiology Course, Tulane Univ. S OM, 2017-present .
Chair , T-1 Curriculum Subcommittee, Tulane University SOM, 2014-Present .
Course Director, Graduate Renal Physiology Course, Tulane Univ ersity SOM, 1992-present .
Director, The DeBakey Scholars Program, Tulane University SOM, 2009-present .
Member, Curriculum Committee, Tulane University SOM, 2011-present .
Member, Evaluations Subcommittee, Tulane University SOM, 2016-2018.
Member, LCME-CQI Committee, Tulane University SOM, 2016-2019.
Member, LCME-CQAI Subcommittee, Tulane University SOM, 2016-2019.
Chair , Medical Education Committee, Department of Physiology, Tulane University SOM, 2017-present.
Member, Medical Education Management Team Committee, Tulane University SOM, 2014-Present.
Member, Milestones Subcommittee, Tulane University SOM, 2016-2018.
Member, Promotions and Honors Committee, Department of Physiology, Tulane University SOM, 2012-present .
Member, Student Affairs Committee, Tulane University School of Medicine, 2017-present .
Kenneth D. Mitchell, PhD
Professor Director, DeBakey Scholars Program
University of Edinburgh, 1986 Research funded by NIGMS, Bridge Funding
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 53
Research Focus
Nephrology; cel lular ion transport;
intracel lular pH regulation; ion transport
in epithelia
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Tulane Bridge Research Award – 2018-2019,
(Role: PI) Ammonia Transport and Acid-Base
Homeostasis”, $30,000.00
DCI , Paul Teschan Research Fund ,
02/01/2019 -01/31/2021, (Role: PI)
Ammonium transport in acidosis and
chronic kidney disease. $120,000
Invited Lectures
Invited Speaker, Epithel ial Physiology
and Cel l Biology Meeting, Tel luride, CO,
“Regulation of renal ammonia
transporters” , July 2018
Invited Seminar Speaker, Case Western
Reserve University , Department of
Physiology , “Properties and regulation of
renal ammonia transport by Rh
glycoproteins” , Jan 2019
Lab Members
Zhou He, Graduate Student
National and International
Prominence
Review Service
Journal Reviewer:
American Journal of Physiology: Cell
American Journal of Physiology: Renal
Journal of Physiology
Physiological Reports
Physiological Reviews
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Departmental level :
Member, Graduate Committee, TUSOM
Department of Physiology
Member, Seminar Committee, TUSOM
Department of Physiology
University level :
Member, Tulane IBC Committee
Member, Tulane BMS Curriculum Committee
Secretary, Tulane General Faculty Committee
National level :
Member, American Association for the
Advancement of Science
Member, American Heart Association: Kidney
Council
Member, American Physiological Society
Member, American Society of Nephrology
Nazih L. Nakhoul, PhD
Adjunct Associate Professor American University of Beirut, 1983
Research funded by VA Grant, NIH
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 54
Research Focus
Molecular basis of hypertension, atrial
natriuretic peptides and receptors , renin
and angiotensin, cardiovascular
dysfunction, gene regulation and
genomics
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
NIH R01 HL062147 grant NHLBI,
04/01/17-03/31/21 on the Study of
ANP Receptor : Gene Targeting and
Expression
Carol Lavin Bernick Faculty Research
Grant, 07/01/1 8-06/30/19
Invited Lectures
Invited Seminar Speaker, Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of
Ayurvedic Medicine, Insti tute of
Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu
University, Varanasi , India . Dec. 1,
2018.
Invited Seminar Speaker, Department
of Li fe Sciences, Amity Science,
Technology & Innovation Center,
Amity University, Noida -Delhi , India.
Dec . 6 , 2018.
Invited Guest Speaker, International
Symposium of Molecular Medicine,
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Insti tute
of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) –
Lucknow, India . Dec . 15 , 2018
Invited Sem inar Speaker, Department
of Microbiology, Gargi Col lege, Delhi
University, Delhi , India . Apr . 24,
2019.
Kailash N. Pandey, PhD
Professor Vice-Chairman, Research
University of Kentucky, 1979 Research funded by NHLBI and NIGMS
Dr. Pandey presenting the guest lecture at
the International Symposium on Molecular
Medicine in Lucknow, India on Dec 15, 2018.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 55
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
Hypertension, 2018 - present
International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, 2012 – present
Journal of Blood Medicine, 2010 – present
Journal of Heart Disease, 2010 – present
International Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2011-present
Molecular Cellular Biochemistry, 2014 – present
Physiological Genomics, 2016 – present
Review Service
Abstract Reviewer: American Heart Association –
Hypertension Council Meeting, 2019
Grant Reviewer:
NIH/NHLBI, K23/K24, Special Emphasis Panel Study Section
Journal Reviewer:
American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Cardiovascular Diabetology
FEBS Journal
Hypertension
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Molecular Pharmacology
Physiological Genomics
PLOS ONE
Scientific Reports
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Department Level
• Chair, Facilities and Space Committee, Department of Physiology, Tulane University School of Medicine
Member, Promotions and Honors Committee, Department of Physiology, Tulane University School of Medicine
University Level
Chair, Biomedical Sciences Graduate School Curriculum Committee, 2014-present
Faculty Mentor, Tulane Learning Communities
Judge, Tulane Research Day
International Level
Member, International Academy of Cardiology, 22nd World Congress on Heart Disease, Scientific Executive Committee, 2010 - present
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 56
Research Focus
Intrarenal regulation of RAS in
hypertension; Role of prorenin
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Elected Co-Chair for the 2020 Gordon
Research Conference in Angiotensin
Laboratory Awards
Bruna Visniauskas , postdoctoral research
fellow, received the fol lowing awards:
A f inal is t for the Juan C a rl os R omero
Pos tdoc toral R es ea rc h R ec ognit ion
A wa rd for the Wa ter a nd E l ec trolyte
Homeos ta s is Sec t ion fr om A PS during the
E xperimenta l B iol ogy M eet ing in
Orl a ndo, FL in A pri l 2019.
The SSC I N ephrol ogy Young Inves t iga tor
Sc hola r A wa rd a t the Southern R egiona l
M eet ing of the A F MR in N ew Orl ea ns , L A
in F ebrua ry , 2019
The 2 n d F inal is t for the Three M inute
Thes is C ompeti t ion a t the E PI L i festy l e
2018 Sc ient i f ic Sess ions of the A HA hel d
in N ew Orl ea ns , L A in Ju l y 2018.
Grant Awards
NIH-NIDDK RO-1 (DK DK104375).
Role: PI . 09/22/2014 -09/30/2020
“Pleiotropic Effects of prorenin
receptor in the collect ing duct and
intrarenal RAS activation”
NIH-NCATSI: CCTS Multidisciplinary
Partner Network Pi lot Program,
04/01/2018-03/31/2019 “Cl inical
Impact of Plasma Soluble Prorenin
Receptor in Obese Type 2 Diabetic
Patients”
American Physiological Society
(APS): Research Enhancement Career
Award (RECA). Role: PI . 08/01/2018 -
07/31/2019. “ Sex di f ferences in the
Epigenetics Regulation of the RAS
using CRISPR-dCas9 technology”
Invited Lectures
Co-Chair and Invited Speaker , the V
International Symposium of the
Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) held
in Sao Paulo, Brazi l , “Paracrine
regulation of collecting duct renin ” ,
August 5-7, 2018
Invited Speaker , Brazi lian Society of
Hypertension, San Jose of Rio Preto,
SP-Brazil . “Clinical relevance of
collecting duct renin in the
pathogenesis of hypertension ” , August
8-11, 2018
Minolfa Prieto, MD, PhD
Associate Professor Tulane University School of Medicine (PhD), 2004
Universidad del Zulia, Venezuela (MD), 1985 Research funded by NIGMS, LBOR, NIDDK
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 57
Invited Seminar Speaker, Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School
of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Medical Col lege of
Virginia Campus , Richmond, VA, “PRR
and its Implications in CVD ” , April 23,
2019
Invited Speaker , Diabetes Research
Day. Sponsors LSU-Health Sciences
Tulane University, Pennington
Biomedical Research Center. Baton
Rouge, LA, “Sex dif ferences in the RAS
during hypertension, Type 2 diabetes
mell itus , and chronic kidney disease ” ,
May 3, 2019.
Invited Speaker , Workshop on
Experimental Animals: Practical tips
and Protocols , Insti tuto de Ciencias
Básicas y Preclinicas (ICBP) “Victoria
de Girón” de la Universidad de
Ciencias Médicas de La Habana as a
pre-meeting event of the 2nd Pan -
American Congress of Physiological
Sciences. Havana, Cuba. “Animal
models to assess renal physiology and
experimental hypertension ” , May 27,
2019.
Invited Speaker , Symposium on
Intracellular Angiotensin F orming
Mechanisms in Heart and Renal
Diseases: Myth or Reali ty during the
International Union of Physiological
Sciences (IUPS) 2nd Pan -American
Congress of Physiological Science.
Havana, Cuba, “Recent advanced in
the biology of the RAS in the distal
nephron during hypertension” , May
27-31, 2019.
Invited Symposium Chair and
Speaker, “Novel Thoughts Open New
Windows into the Function of the
Intrarenal RAAS in Cardiovascular
Diseases” IUPS 2nd Pan -American
Congress of Physiological Science.
“ Impact of the inte ractions of renin,
prorenin receptor, and soluble
prorenin receptor in cardiovascular
diseases” , Havana, Cuba, May 27 -31,
2019.
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
American Journal Physiology, Renal Physiol,
2013-present
Biology of the Sex Differences Journal, 2011-present
Review Service
Abstract Reviewer: APS, Renal Section, EB 2019 APS, Water and Electrolytes Section, EB 2019 AHA, Council on Hypertension Meeting, 2019 Tulane Research Days 2019
Gordon Research Conference in Angiotensin
Grant Reviewer: NIH-HM Study Section. Regular Member
2017-2023
FAPESP, Foundation do Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Sao Paulo, Brazil
Journal Reviewer: American Journal of Geriatric
Pharmacotherapy
Biology of the Sex Differences Journal
American Journal of Physiology (Renal)
American Journal of Physiology (Heart and Circulatory Physiology)
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology
Clinical Therapeutics
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 58
Current Therapeutic Research
Gender Medicine
Hypertension
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Kidney International
PlosOne
Scientific Reports
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Department Level :
Chair , Happiness and Well Being
Committee, Department of Physiology ,
2008-present
Member, Medical Education
Committee , 2008-present
Member, Physiology Graduate
Students Program Committee , 2008-
present
University Level :
Member, Admissions Committee ,
Tulane University SOM, 2007-present
Judge, Tulane Health Sciences Center
Research Days , 2007-present
Women’s Health-based Research
Committee , Tulane University SOM ,
2017-present
Member, Faculty Tenure, Freedom,
and Responsibil ity Committee (Senate
Subcommittee)
Member, Personnel and Honors (P&H)
Committee , 2017-present
National Level :
Member, KCVD Leadership Committee
of the Council on the Kidney in
Cardiovascular Disease , 2017-2019
Appointed Regular Member of the HM
Study Section, NHLBI/NIH , 2017-2023
Member, Executive Committee of the
Inter-American Society of
Hypertension (IASH), 2017-present
Co-Chair of the Symposium,
“Mechanisms of Hypertension -
Induced Kidney Damage” .
Experimental Biology Meeting,
Orlando, FL, April 7, 2019
International Level :
C ha ir of the Sympos ium , “N ovel Thoughts
Open N ew Windows in to the F unc t ion of
the Intra rena l R enin- Angiotens in Sys tem
in C a rdiovas c ula r Dis ea s es ” . 2nd Pa n
A meric a n C ongres s of Phys iol ogic al
Sc ienc es Ha va na , Cuba . M a y 27 - 31, 2019
E l ec ted C o- Cha ir for the Orga niza t ion of
the G ordon R es ea rch C onferenc e i n
A ngiotens in , to be hel d in L uc c a - Tusca ny ,
I ta ly , F ebrua ry 2020
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 59
Research Focus
Role of energy metabolism in nephron
progenitor cel l sel f -renewal and
nephrogenesis
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
NIH RO1 DK118231 07/2018-06/2021,
“Intermediary Metabolism Control of
Nephron Progenitor Li fespan.”
Invited Lectures
Invited Speaker – Biomedicum Helsinki Seminar Series at the University of Helsinki. “Metabolic Control of Nephron Progenitor Cell Fate” October 15, 2018.
National and International
Prominence
Review Service
Abstract Reviewer:
Abstract Category Chair for American
Society of Nephrology (ASN) meeting,
‘Development, Stem Cells and Regenerative
Medicine’
Grant Reviewer:
Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance
Fellowship Grant Review
Journal Reviewer:
Nature Metabolism
Pediatric Nephrology
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Professional Society Memberships:
American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS)
American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
American Physiological Society (APS)
Institutional Responsibilities
Member, Department of Physiology, Admissions Review Comm ittee
Member, Faculty Advisory Committee
Member, Faculty Grievance Committee
LAB MEMBERS
J o rdan Huges
T 3 M ed i c a l S tu d en t
Francesca Edgington -
Gio rdano
G r a du a te S tu de n t
Giovane To r t e l o t e , PhD .
P o s tdo c to r a l F e l lo w
Mari e l Co lon-Leyva , MS
Re s e a r c h T e ch n ic i a n
Zubaida Saifudeen, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor Tulane University School of Medicine, 1997
Research funded by NIGMS, NIDDK
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 60
Research Focus
The inf luence of oxygen on the promotion
of l imb regeneration and t issue, muscle
and bone salvage after a traumatic injury.
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
NIGMS, PI : Jazwinski , Role: Project Leader, 2P20GM103629, 0 6/01/2017-05/31/2022 , “Promoting skeletal regeneration in aged mice,” $875,000
Tulane School of Medicine, Equipment Grant, 09/01/2018, “Bruker SkyScan 1172 microCT,” $65,613
Invited Lectures
Seminar Speaker, Tulane University SOM Physiology Seminar Series, “Bone and soft tissue regeneration in a mouse model: pointing the finger at a mechanism”, August 27, 2018
National and International
Prominence
Review Service
Grant Reviewer:
Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
Journal Reviewer:
2017 – present, Scientific Reports
2018 – present, Stem Cells
2016 – present, Wound Journal
Other Professional Positions
and Services
2011 – present, Member, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2012 – present, Member, the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)
2018 – present, Member, TUSOM Department of Physiology, Admissions Review Committee
2014 – present, Member, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medial Society
Mimi Sammarco, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor Louisiana State University HSC, 2005
Research funded by NIGMS
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 61
Research Focus
Molecular mechanisms underlying
regulation of renin-angiotensin system
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
NIH NIDDK 1R01DK107694 (Role: PI), “Histone Deacetylase 9 is an Epigenetic Suppressor of Intrarenal Angiotensinogen, Serving as a Key Mechanism in Angiotensinogen Augmentation in Hypertension” (2015-2020)
NIH NIDDK DK118231 (PI: Saifudeen; Role: Co-Investigator) (2018-2021)
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC: 28431754DIA4010 (PI: Navar; Role Co-investigator) “Role of Kidney production of AGT in the reduction of BP by SGLT2 Inhibition under diabetic and non-diabetic conditions” (12/18/15-09/30/18)
NIH - NIGMS: 1P30GM103337 (PI: Navar; Role: Director of the Molecular Core) Translational Research in Hypertension and Renal Biology-Phase III (08/01/12 – 07/31/19)
Tulane SOM Pilot Program (Role: PI) (2019-2020)
National and International
Prominence
Review Service
Journal Reviewer: Am J Med Sci, 2018 BBA, 2019 BTPR, 2019 CHM, 2018 Diabetes Care, 2018 FASEB J, 2019 Gene, 2018 Hypertension Res, 2019 Int J Mol Sci, 2018, 2019
JASN, 2019
JCDD, 2019
J Horm Dis Endocrin Res, 2018
Nephrology, 2019 Nephrol Dial Transplant, 2019 Science Reports, 2019
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Departmental Level :
Director, Molecular Core, Tulane
Hypertension and Renal Center of
Excel lence/Department of Physiology
National Level:
Inst itut ional Ambassador, The American
Society of Cell Biology, 2016 -present
Ryosuke Sato, PhD
Assistant Professor Gifu University, Gifu, Japan, 2005
Research funded by NHLBI, CoBRE Pilot Project
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 62
Research Focus
Diabetes mell itus and chronic kidney
disease in the progre ssion of
cardiovascular disease
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Tulane University SOM Owl Club Award, T1 Ranked Top 3 Phase 1 Lecturers, 2019
Tulane University SOM Owl Club Award, T1 Professor of the Year – Finalist, 2019
Grant Awards
Ochsner Clinical Research & Innovation Support Program (CRISP) grant award (Role PI) 10/01/2017 – 09/30/2018, “Mapping Serum Biomarkers of carotid plaque rupture to intra-plaque changes: Novel predictors of stroke”
NIH-NHLBI: R01HL127092-01A1(Role: PI) 04/01/2016 - 03/31/2020 , “Role of VSMC -Derived Exosomes in the Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes ”
Janssen Scientif ic Affairs, LLC:28431754DIA4010 (PI:Navar ; Role: Co-investigator) 12/18/2015 - 05/30/2019 , “Role of Kidney Production of Angiotensinogen in the Reduction of Blood Pressure by SGLT2 Inhibit ion under Diabetic and Non -diabetic Conditions”
Invited Lectures
Participant, COBRE EAC Meeting, Department of Pharmacology, LSU Health Sciences Center,
“From a Well-known Pathway to Exosomes and ncRNA in Atherosclerosis”, May, 2019
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
Scientific Reports Review Service
Grant Reviewer: National Institutes of Health, Special
Emphasis Panel Vascular (ZRG1 DKUS-H)
Journal Reviewer: Atherosclerosis Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry International Journal of General Medicine Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Chair , Physiology Seminar Committee,
Tulane University
Faculty Mentor, Tulane Learning
Communities
Interviewer, Graduate Program in
Biomedical Sciences
Vice Chair , General Medical Faculty
Member, IACUC Advisory Committee
Member, Medical Educational
Committee, Department of Physiology
Member, LCME Self -Study Sub-
Committee on Standards 8 & 9
T. Cooper Woods, Ph.D.
Associate Professor University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008
Research Funded by NIH NBLBI, Ochsner CRISP, Pharmeceutical
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 63
Research Focus
Cancer and diabetes research which span
from basic research to therapeutics
development
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
1R01DK107412. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (Role PI) Pax4-induced alpha-to-beta cell conversion 07/01/2016–06/30/2019; $1,015,875.
Tulane School of Medicine Bridge Funding (Role PI) $50,000 including department match 01/01/19-12/31/19
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
Scientific Reports, 2013 – present
Review Service
Grant Reviewer:
Integrated Islet Distribution Program
(IIDP) Islet Award Initiative, 2018
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 2018
NIH/NIDDK study section ZRG1 EMNR-G
(02) M, 2018
NIH/NIDDK study section CADO, 2019
Journal Reviewer:
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
eBook Frontiers in Clinical Drug
Research-Diabetes and Obesity
Experimental Cell Research
Genes
Journal of International Medical Research
Molecular Therapy
PLoS One
Scientific Reports
Hongju Wu, PhD
Adjunct Associate Professor University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2001
Research funded by NIH NIDDK
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 64
Research Focus
Neurophysiology and central control of
whole body metabolism
Awards – Honors – Recognition
Grant Awards
NIDDK R01 DK 099598 (role: PI),
04/01/2014-03/31/2020 “TRPV1-dependent
autonomic control in diabetes”
NIH NIA 099598 S1 (role: PI), 04/01/2018-
03/31/2020 “TRPV1-dependent autonomic
control in diabetes”
NIH SPARC OT2OD023864 (role:
collaborator), 08/01/2017-07/31/2018 –
“Genetically-based neuro-modulation of
adipose tissue functions”
NIH-NHLBI 2R01 HL093178 (role:
collaborator), 10-01/2014-07/31/2018
“Mechanisms of ACE2 regulation in
neurogenic hypertension”
Research Awards
Adrien Molinas, postdoctoral fellow,
received the Research in Neuroscience award
for his poster during the Tulane Health
Sciences Research Days, entitled, “Insulin-
dependent decrease of excitatory neuro-
transmission in preautonomic PVN neurons is
reduced in diet-induced obese mice”.
Adrien also received the Mead Johnson
Award from APS Endocrinology and
Metabolism section at the Experimental
Biology meeting.
Andrea Zsombok, Ph.D.
Associate Professor University of Pecs, Hungary, 2002
Research funded by NIH NIDDK & NIA
LAB MEMBERS (From left to right):
Adrien Molinas, Andrea Zsombok, Lucie Desmoulins, Sierra Butcher, and Hong Gao
Adrien Molinas during the Tulane Health Science Research Days
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 65
National and International
Prominence
Editorial Boards
AJP Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2015-present)
Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications (2016-present)
Review Service
Abstract Reviewer: APS: Endocrinology and Metabolism Section,
EB meeting 2019 Grant Reviewer: NIH NNRS Study Section (regular member
2016-2022) Journal Reviewer: AJP Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative
Physiology
Other Professional Positions
and Services
Departmental level:
2011-Pres Chair, Library and Educational Aids/Website Committee
2011-Pres Member, Seminar Committee
University level:
2016-Pres Executive Board member, Tulane University-Brain Institute
2017-Pres Member, Admission Committee, Neuroscience PhD Program
2018-2019 Immediate Past Chair, General Medical Faculty
2018-Pres Member, Mentoring & Steering Committee; group on Women in Medicine & Science
2018-2021 Member, University Senate Sub-Committee for Research
National level
2015-2019 Member, APS Endocrinology and Metabolism Section, Steering Committee
2015-2019 Member, APS Memberships and FAPS Committee (EM representative)
2016-2019 Member, APS Science Policy Committee
Adrien Molinas with certificate award during the EB meeting.
As a member of the APS Science Policy Committee, Dr. Zsombok attended meetings on Capitol Hill with
US Senators to advocate for biomedical research.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 66
Faculty Adjuncts
Gholam Ali, M.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine; Associate Director, Vascular Medicine
Samir S. El-Dahr, M.D., Adjunct Professor
Primary Appointment: Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Nephrology
Romer Gonzalez-Villalobos, M.D., Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment: Assistant Professor, Biomedical Sciences and Experimental Pathology, Cedars-Sinai, CA; Senior Principal Scientist, DSRD Safety
L. Lee Hamm, M.D., F.A.C.P., Adjunct Professor
Primary Appointment: Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Dean, School of Medicine
Lisa M. Harrison-Bernard, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor
Primary Appointment: Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
Michael G. Levitzky, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor
Primary Appointment: Professor, Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Sarah H. Lindsey, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment: Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology
Laura A. Schrader-Kriek, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment: Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
Juan Carlos Q. Velez, M.D., Adjunct Associate Professor
Primary Appointment: Staff Physician, Department of Nephrology, Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Postdoctoral Fellows
Lucie Desmoulins, Ph.D.
University of Burgundy, Dijon France, 2016
Mentor: Dr. Andrei Derbenev
Supaporn (Tom) Kulthinee, Ph.D.
Khon Kaen University, Thailand, 2016
Mentor: Dr. L. Gabriel Navar
Adrien Molinas, Ph.D.
Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France, 2011
Mentor: Dr. Andrea Zsombok
Kandasamy Neelamegam, Ph.D.
Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India, 2014
Mentor: Dr. Kailash N. Pandey
Ramachandra Samivel, Ph.D.
Annamalai University, India, 2011
Mentor: Dr. Kailash N. Pandey
Bruna Visniauskas, Ph.D.
Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2016
Mentor: Dr. Minolfa Prieto
Hanqing Zhao, Ph.D.
Queen Mary University of London, 2015
Mentor: Dr. Kailash N. Pandey
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 67
Administrative Staff
Nora Barquero
Program Coordinator
Nina R. Majid
Senior Program Coordinator
Hypertension & Renal Center of
Excellence
Amelia R. Chaisson
Senior Department
Administrator
Debbie M. Olavarrieta
Operations Manager
Rose Grace
Accountant
Weijian Shao
Director, Departmental
Resources and Facilities
Research Staff
Laboratory Research Technicians
Medical Research Specialists
George Brand Courtney Dugas
Alexander Castillo Akemi Sato
Stephanie Crabtree
Hunter Douglas
Nicholas Huisingh Research Scientist
Natasha Klingenberg Hong Gao, Ph.D.
Hongju Lee
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 68
8. DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS
1. Allard, C., Morford, J. J., Xu, B., Salwen, B., Xu, W., Desmoulins, L., Zsombok, A., Kim, J. K., Levin, E. R., and Mauvais-Jarvis, F. (2019) Loss of Nuclear and Membrane Estrogen Receptor-alpha Differentially Impairs Insulin Secretion and Action in Male and Female Mice. Diabetes 68, 490-501
2. Bateman, M. E., Jones, R. B., Green, E. A., John, M. M., Hilson, B., Wlodarczyk, J., Kreisman, N., Jones, C., and Chakraborti, C. (2018) Large Group Basic Science Tutorials Reduce the Stigma Surrounding Academic Assistance in the Medical School Setting. Medical Science Educator 28, 515-524
3. Boese, A. C., Le, Q. E., Pham, D., Hamblin, M. H., and Lee, J. P. (2018) Neural stem cell therapy for subacute and chronic ischemic stroke. Stem Cell Res Ther 9, 154
4. Cargill, K., Hemker, S. L., Clugston, A., Murali, A., Mukherjee, E., Liu, J., Bushnell, D., Bodnar, A. J., Saifudeen, Z., Ho, J., Bates, C. M., Kostka, D., Goetzman, E. S., and Sims-Lucas, S. (2019) Von Hippel-Lindau Acts as a Metabolic Switch Controlling Nephron Progenitor Differentiation. J Am Soc Nephrol 30
5. Das, K. K., Honnutagi, R., Mullur, L., Reddy, R. C., Das, S., Majid, D. S. A., and Biradar, M. S. (2019) Chapter 26: Heavy Metals and Low-Oxygen Microenvironment—Its Impact on Liver Metabolism and Dietary Supplementation. In Dietary Interventions in Liver Disease pp. 315-332
6. Dong, S., Bluher, M., Zhang, Y., Wu, H., and Alahari, S. K. (2019) Development of insulin resistance in Nischarin mutant female mice. Int J Obes (Lond) 43, 1046-1057
7. El-Dahr, S. S., and Saifudeen, Z. (2019) Epigenetic regulation of renal development. Semin Cell Dev Biol 91, 111-118
8. Gao, H., Korim, W. S., Yao, S. T., Heesch, C. M., and Derbenev, A. V. (2019) Glycinergic neurotransmission in the rostral ventrolateral medulla controls the time course of baroreflex-mediated sympathoinhibition. J Physiol 597, 283-301
9. Garagliano, J. M., Katsurada, A., Miyata, K., Derbenev, A. V., Zsombok, A., Navar, L. G., and Satou, R. (2019) Advanced Glycation End Products Stimulate Angiotensinogen Production in Renal Proximal Tubular Cells. Am J Med Sci 357, 57-66
10. Gentile, C. M., Borovjagin, A. V., Richter, J. R., Jani, A. H., Wu, H., Zinn, K. R., and Warram, J. M. (2019) Genetic strategy to decrease complement activation with adenoviral therapies. PLoS One 14, e0215226
11. Gogulamudi, V. R., Mani, I., Subramanian, U., and Pandey, K. N. (2019) Genetic disruption of Npr1 depletes regulatory T cells and provokes high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and fibrosis in the kidneys of female mutant mice. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 316, F1254-F1272
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
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12. Gonsalez, S. R., Cortes, A. L., Silva, R. C. D., Lowe, J., Prieto, M. C., and Silva Lara, L. D. (2019) Acute kidney injury overview: From basic findings to new prevention and therapy strategies. Pharmacol Ther
13. Hering-Smith, K. S., and Hamm, L. L. (2018) Acidosis and citrate: provocative interactions. Ann Transl Med 6, 374
14. Hilliard, S., Song, R., Liu, H., Chen, C. H., Li, Y., Baddoo, M., Flemington, E., Wanek, A., Kolls, J., Saifudeen, Z., and El-Dahr, S. S. (2019) Defining the dynamic chromatin landscape of mouse nephron progenitors. Biol Open 8
15. Hutson, D. D., Gurrala, R., Ogola, B. O., Zimmerman, M. A., Mostany, R., Satou, R., and Lindsey, S. H. (2019) Estrogen receptor profiles across tissues from male and female Rattus norvegicus. Biol Sex Differ 10, 4
16. Kanthaswamy, S., Ng, J., Oldt, R. F., Phillippi-Falkenstein, K., and Kubisch, H. M. (2018) SNP-based genetic characterization of the Tulane National Primate Research Center's conventional and specific pathogen-free rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) populations. J Med Primatol 47, 29-34
17. Kemp, B. A., Howell, N. L., Keller, S. R., Gildea, J. J., Shao, W., Navar, L. G., and Carey, R. M. (2019) Defective Renal Angiotensin III and AT2 Receptor Signaling in Prehypertensive Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. J Am Heart Assoc 8, e012016
18. Kim, D. S., Song, L., Wang, J., Wu, H., Gou, W., Cui, W., Kim, J. S., and Wang, H. (2018) Carbon Monoxide Inhibits Islet Apoptosis via Induction of Autophagy. Antioxid Redox Signal 28, 1309-1322
19. Mani, I., and Pandey, K. N. (2019) Emerging concepts of receptor endocytosis and concurrent intracellular signaling: Mechanisms of guanylyl cyclase/natriuretic peptide receptor-A activation and trafficking. Cell Signal 60, 17-30
20. Molinas, A. J. R., Desmoulins, L. D., Hamling, B. V., Butcher, S. M., Anwar, I. J., Miyata, K., Enix, C. L., Dugas, C. M., Satou, R., Derbenev, A. V., and Zsombok, A. (2019) Interaction between TRPV1-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus. J Neurophysiol 121, 140-151
21. Navar, L. G., and Richfield, O. (2018) Why until Just Now? Undiscovered Uniqueness of the Human Glomerulus! Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 315, F1345-F1346
22. Navarro, G., Allard, C., Morford, J. J., Xu, W., Liu, S., Molinas, A. J., Butcher, S. M., Fine, N. H., Blandino-Rosano, M., Sure, V. N., Yu, S., Zhang, R., Munzberg, H., Jacobson, D. A., Katakam, P. V., Hodson, D. J., Bernal-Mizrachi, E., Zsombok, A., and Mauvais-Jarvis, F. (2018) Androgen excess in pancreatic beta cells and neurons predisposes female mice to type 2 diabetes. JCI Insight 3, e98607
23. Paige, J. T., Kremer, M., Landry, J., Hatfield, S. A., Wathieu, D., Brug, A., Lightell, D. J., Spiller, K. L., and Woods, T. C. (2019) Modulation of inflammation in wounds of diabetic patients treated with porcine urinary bladder matrix. Regen Med 14, 269-277
24. Pandey, K. N. (2018) Molecular and genetic aspects of guanylyl cyclase natriuretic peptide receptor-A in regulation of blood pressure and renal function. Physiol Genomics 50, 913-928
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25. Periyasamy, R., Das, S., and Pandey, K. N. (2019) Genetic disruption of guanylyl cyclase/natriuretic peptide receptor-A upregulates renal (pro) renin receptor expression in Npr1 null mutant mice. Peptides 114, 17-28
26. Pu, X. A., Young, A. P., and Kubisch, H. M. (2019) Production of Transgenic Mice by Pronuclear Microinjection. Methods Mol Biol 1874, 17-41
27. Sperling, J. A., Sakamuri, S., Albuck, A. L., Sure, V. N., Evans, W. R., Peterson, N. R., Rutkai, I., Mostany, R., Satou, R., and Katakam, P. V. G. (2019) Measuring Respiration in Isolated Murine Brain Mitochondria: Implications for Mechanistic Stroke Studies. Neuromolecular Med
28. Sukhanov, S., Higashi, Y., Shai, S. Y., Snarski, P., Danchuk, S., D'Ambra, V., Tabony, M., Woods, T. C., Hou, X., Li, Z., Ozoe, A., Chandrasekar, B., Takahashi, S. I., and Delafontaine, P. (2018) SM22alpha (Smooth Muscle Protein 22-alpha) Promoter-Driven IGF1R (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor) Deficiency Promotes Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 38, 2306-2317
29. Willeman, M. N., Chawla, M. K., Zempare, M. A., Biwer, L. A., Hoang, L. T., Uprety, A. R., Fitzhugh, M. C., De Both, M., Coleman, P. D., Trouard, T. P., Alexander, G. E., Mitchell, K. D., Barnes, C. A., Hale, T. M., and Huentelman, M. (2019) Gradual hypertension induction in middle-aged Cyp1a1-Ren2 transgenic rats produces significant impairments in spatial learning. Physiological Reports 7, e14010
30. Woods, T. C., Satou, R., Miyata, K., Katsurada, A., Dugas, C. M., Klingenberg, N. C., Fonseca, V. A., and Navar, L. G. (2019) Canagliflozin Prevents Intrarenal Angiotensinogen Augmentation and Mitigates Kidney Injury and Hypertension in Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Am J Nephrol 49, 331-342
31. Xu, J., Molinas, A. J. R., Mukerjee, S., Morgan, D. A., Rahmouni, K., Zsombok, A., and Lazartigues, E. (2019) Activation of ADAM17 (A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease 17) on Glutamatergic Neurons Selectively Promotes Sympathoexcitation. Hypertension 73, 1266-1274
32. Yang, E. J., Mahmood, U., Kim, H., Choi, M., Choi, Y., Lee, J. P., Cho, J. Y., Hyun, J. W., Kim, Y. S., Chang, M. J., and Kim, H. S. (2018) Phloroglucinol ameliorates cognitive impairments by reducing the amyloid beta peptide burden and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus of 5XFAD mice. Free Radic Biol Med 126, 221-234
33. Yu, S., Cheng, H., Francois, M., Qualls-Creekmore, E., Huesing, C., He, Y., Jiang, Y., Gao, H., Xu, Y., Zsombok, A., Derbenev, A. V., Nillni, E. A., Burk, D. H., Morrison, C. D., Berthoud, H. R., and Munzberg, H. (2018) Preoptic leptin signaling modulates energy balance independent of body temperature regulation. Elife 7, e33505
34. Zhang, Y., Parajuli, K. R., Fava, G. E., Gupta, R., Xu, W., Nguyen, L. U., Zakaria, A. F., Fonseca, V. A., Wang, H., Mauvais-Jarvis, F., Sloop, K. W., and Wu, H. (2019) GLP-1 Receptor in Pancreatic alpha-Cells Regulates Glucagon Secretion in a Glucose-Dependent Bidirectional Manner. Diabetes 68, 34-44
35. Zwezdaryk, K., Sullivan, D., and Saifudeen, Z. (2018) The p53/Adipose-Tissue/Cancer Nexus. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 9, 457
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9. ABSTRACT & ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB) Meeting, Bonita Springs,
FL - July 17-22, 2018
Desmoulins LD, Hamling BV, Katsurada A, Zsombok A. Hypothalamic Trpv1-
expressing neurons and the regulation of energy homeostasis. #P67
Desmoulins LD, Zsombok A. Monosynaptic inputs to hypothalamic Trpv1-
expressing neurons. #P12
ASH /AHA Council on Hypertension, Joint Scientific Sessions, Chicago,
IL – September 6-9, 2018
Castillo A, Khan N, Shindler I, Navar LG, and Majid DSA. Inverse Circadian
Pattern in the Renal Generation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNFá) and
Angiotensinogen (AGT) in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension (SSH) Induced by
Angiotensin II (AngII) in Mice. #P380 Hypertension. 2018;72:AP380
Gogulamudi VR, Mani I, Subramanian U, and Pandey KN. Effect of
Rapamycin on the Expression of T Regulatory Cells, Foxp3, and Toll-Like
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
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Receptors in the Kidneys of Npr1 Gene-Knockout Mice. #P161 Hypertension.
2018;72:A161
Howell NL, Kemp BA, Keller SR, Gildea JJ, Shao W, Navar LG, and Carey RM.
Identification of s Primary Renal AT2 Receptor Defect in Spontaneously
Hypertensive Rats (SHR). #O33.
Kulthinee S, Shao W, Franco M, Navar LG. Purinergic P2X1 and P2X7
Receptors Activation Attenuate Angiotensin AT1 Receptors Dominance in
Regulating the Preglomerular Renal Microcirculation in Angiotensin II Dependent
Hypertension. #O64
Kumar P, Bloodworth M, Nguyen C, Gogulamudi VR, and Pandey KN.
Differential Regulation of Blood Pressure and Renal Injury by HDAC Inhibitor
Mocetinostat in Npr1 Gene-targeted Male and Female Mutant Mice. #P255
Hypertension. 2018;72:A255
Satou R, Woods TC, Miyata K, Katsurada A, Dugas CM, Klingenberg NC, and
Navar LG. Real-Time Analysis of Blood Glucose Dynamics by a Glucose
Telemetry System in Canagliflozin-Treated Diabetic Mice. #P327
Subramanian U, Samivel R, Zhao H, Gogulamudi V and Pandey KN.
Transforming Growth Factor-Beta-Receptor Antagonist Blocks the Cardiac
Fibrosis and Remodeling in Guanylyl Cyclase/Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-A
Gene-Disrupted Mice. #101 Hypertension. 2018;72:A101
APS Conference: Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Sex-
Specific Implications for Physiology, Knoxville, TN. September 30 – October
3, 2018
Hutson DD, Gurrala R, Mostany R, Satou R, and Lindsey SH. Tissue-Specific
Estrogen Receptor Profiling Using Droplet Digital PCR.
American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA – October
23-28, 2018
Shingarev RA, Latcha S, Sathick IJ, Prieto MC, Jaimes EA. Hypertension and
Proteinuria after Antiangiogenic Drugs: Role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone
System. #FR-PO339
Song R, Baddoo MC, Liu H, Saifudeen ZR, El-Dahr SS. Dynamic Chromatin
Accessibility at Poised Developmental Enhancers of Nephron Progenitors. #FR-
PO917
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July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 73
Society of Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA – November 3-7, 2018
Derbenev A, Torres H, Burk D, Berthoud H-R, Munzberg H, Zsombok A.
Sympathetic innervation of the kidney and liver. #0017
American Society of Cell Biology Meeting (San Diego, CA) – December 8-12,
2018
Yanofsky SM, Dugas CM, Katsurada A, El-Dahr SS, Saifudeen Z and Satou R.
Regulation of renal structural formation by angiotensin II in iPSC-derived human
kidney organoids. #P2566
Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Annual Scientific Assembly,
Austin Texas – January 15-19, 2019
Jackson-Weaver O, Friedman JK, Rodriguez LA, Hoof MA, Drury RH, Packer
JT, Guidry C, Hong S, Duchesne JC. High dose catecholamines are protective to
the endothelial glycocalyx in a cellular model for shock.
Southern Regional Meeting, New Orleans, LA – February 21-23, 2019
Curnow A, Gonsalez SR, Visniauskas B, Crabtree SL, Gogulamudi VR, Simon
EE, Lara Morcillo LD and Prieto MC. Nitric oxide synthase inhibition stimulates
renin synthesis independent of CGMP in collecting duct cells. J Investig Med
67:565, 2019. #545C (SSCI Young Investigators Award-Third Place)
Hughes JB, LI T, Brumfield I, El-Dahr SS and Saifudeen Z. The
mevalonate/cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in nephron progenitor cell renewal.
Platform presentation. J Investig Med 67:638, 2019. #719 (SSPR Trainee Travel
Award Winner)
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 74
Kulthinee S, Shao W, Brand G, Franco M, Navar L. Dominance of purinergic
P2X1 and P2X7 receptors mitigates angiotensin AT1 receptors influence on renal
microvascular resistance in angiotensin II dependent hypertension. J Investig Med
67:639, 2019. #721
Penrose HM and Savkovic SD. Transcriptome profiling of inflammatory bowel
disease patients reveals shared and unique alterations in immune cells, molecular
pathways, and transcripts. J Investig Med 67:587, 2019. #589 (SAFMR/SSCI
Student Research Travel Award Winner)
Richfield O, Cortez R and Navar LG. Glomerular capillary wall shear stress in
the diabetic rat: A modeling study. J Investig Med 67:616, 2019. #662
(SAFMR/SSCI Student Research Travel Award Winner)
Samivel R, Chen H, Subramanian U, Zhao H and Pandey KN. Blockade of
cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis by TGF-Beta 1 receptor antagonist in NPR1 gene-
knockout mice. J Investig Med 67:356, 2019. (SAFMR/SSCI Student Research
Travel Award Winner)
Visniauskas B, Crabtree SL, Castro JV, Acosta M, Curnow A and Prieto MC.
Activation of prorenin receptor (PRR) stimulates production of TNFA and IL-6 in
murine macrophages. J Investig Med 67:618, 2019. #667 (SSCI Nephrology
Young Investigator Scholar Award Winner)
Yanofsky SM, Dugas CM, Katsurada A, El-Dahr SS, Saifudeen Z and Satou R.
Angiotensin II biphasically regulates cell differentiation in induced pluripotent stem
cell-derived human kidney organoids. J Investig Med 67:617, 2019. #665
(SAFMR/SSCI Student Research Travel Award Winner)
Western Trauma Association Annual Meeting, Snowmass Colorado – March
3-8, 2019
Jackson-Weaver O, Friedman JK, Guidry C, Smith A, Schreiber M, Duchesne
J. Hypoxia/reoxygenation produces greater endothelial glycocalyx damage than
ischemia alone in a cellular model for shock. Selected for the EE Moore Resident
Prize for Basic Science Research Competition.
International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research Societies 3rd Herbert
Fleisch Workshop, Bruges, Belgium – March 17-19, 2019
Busse E, Simkin J, Stewart K, Sammarco M. The influence of cellular
metabolism on digit regeneration.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 75
Tulane Health Sciences Research Days, New Orleans, LA – March 18-19, 2019
Curnow A, Gonzales SR, Visniauskas B, Crabtree SL, Gogulamudi VR, Simon
EE. Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition Stimulates Renin Synthesis Independent of
cGMP in Collecting Duct Cells (2016 Summer Student/Prieto Lab) #A41
Desmoulins LD, Molinas AJR, Litsky NM, Sharon T, Riklan JE, Zsombok A.
TRPV1-expressing neurons of the caudal Hypothalamus project to
thermoregulatory POA neurons (Postdoc/Derbenev). #B11
Drouin A, Loupe W, Lorang C, Fusco D. A relatively Immunocompetent Mouse
Model for Improved Understanding of Dengue Virus Pathology (MS Student,
William Loupe-additional author) #B34
Hong J, Visniauskas B, Crabtree S, Arita DY, Rosales CB, Feroz M, Jaimes E,
Ducoin C, Levy S, Thethi TK, Fonseca, V, Mauvais-Jarvis, F, and Prieto MC.
Soluble Prorenin Receptor (sPRR) is Increased in Plasma of Obese Diabetic
Women but not in Men (2018 Summer Student/Prieto Lab) #A11
Kremer M, Paige J, Woods TC. Modulation of Inflammation in Wounds of Diabetic
Patients Treated With Porcine Urinary Bladder Matrix (2017 Summer
Student/Woods Lab). #A21
Lu Y. A Novel Way to Design Pharmaceutical Drugs (Graduate Student/Li). #A31
Molinas, AJR, Desmoulins LD, Gao H, Zsombok A. Insulin-dependent decrease
of excitatory neurotransmission in preautonomic PVN neurons is reduced in diet-
induced obese mice (Postdoc/Zsombok). #B42
Sun Y(C), Lu Y, Li M. Computer based drug screening for identification of novel
T-type calcium channel specific blockers (MS Student). #A42
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 76
Visniauskas B, Mourain J, Crabtree S, Jorgensen JA, Chagas JR, Prieto MC.
Bradykinin levels and kallikrein 1 activity are reduced in mice with prorenin receptor
(PRR) deficiency in the collecting duct (Postdoc/Prieto). #A39
Werner CD, Butcher SM, Kaminsky EB, Hamling BV, Desmoulins LD,
Zsombok A. Identification of subsets of neurons projecting from the hypothalamus
to both pancreas and interscapular brown adipose tissue (2018 Summer
Student/Zsombok Lab) #B43
Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)/FDA Frontiers in Medical Devices
Conference, Washington, DC – March 19-21, 2019
Richfield O, Cortez R, Navar LG. Glomerular Capillary Hypertrophy in the
Diabetic Rat Normalizes Wall Shear Stress: A Modeling Study
Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA – March 23-26, 2019
Kumar P, Pandya K, Pandey K. Modulation of Histone 3 Acetylation and
Methylation Enhances the Expression and Function of Npr1 in Haplotype Mice.
#SAT-046. J Endocrin Soc, Vol 3, Issue Suppl 1, April-May 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1210/js.2019
Experimental Biology Meeting, Orlando, FL – April 6-9, 2019
Kumar P. Inhibition of DNA Methylation Regulates Guanylyl Cyclase/Natriuretic
Peptide Receptor-A Gene Expression. Faseb J. Volume 33, Issue 1, supplement,
Apr 2019. #621.8
Kumar P, Pandya K, and Pandey KN. Regulation of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-
A Expression in Gene-targeted Mice via Modulation of Histone 3 Acetylation and
Methylation Levels. Faseb J. Volume 33, Issue 1, supplement, Apr 2019. #595.3
Majid DSA, Ekpo PE, Talwar S, Abdel-Mageed AB, and Castillo A. The protein
expression of TNF-α receptor type 1 (TNFR1) is reduced by nitric oxide (NO)
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 77
synthase inhibition in cultured renal proximal tubular (HK-2) cells. Faseb J. Volume
33, Issue 1, supplement, Apr 2019. #569.15
Molinas JA, Desmoulins LD, Gao H, and Zsombok A. Insulin-dependent
Decrease of Excitatory Neurotransmission in Preautonomic PVN Neurons Is
Reduced in Diet-induced Obese Mice. Faseb J. Volume 33, Issue 1, supplement,
Apr 2019. #555.1
Mukerjee S, Gao G, Zsombok A, and Lazartigues E. ACE2 expression on
inhibitory neurons controls neuronal excitability of the PVN. Faseb J. Volume 33,
Issue 1, supplement, Apr 2019. #850.4
Nakhoul NL, Hering-Smith K, Hamm LL, and Abdulnour-Nakhoul S. Renal
Adaptive Changes in Response to Chronic Metabolic or Respiratory Acidosis:
Regulation of Expression of Acid-base Transporters and Enzymes. #544.19
Periyasamy R, Das S, and Pandey KN. Genetic disruption of guanylyl
cyclase/natriuretic peptide receptor-A upregulates renal (pro)renin receptor
expression in Npr1 null mutant mice. Faseb J. Volume 33, Issue 1, supplement,
Apr 2019. #576.3
Richfield O, Cortez R, and Navar LG. Glomerular capillary wall shear stress in
the diabetic rat: A modeling study. Faseb J. Volume 33, Issue 1, supplement, Apr
2019. #748.13
Samivel R, Subramanian U, Oakes JM, Chen H, Zhao H, Gardner JD, and
Pandey KN. Blockade of Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis by TGF-Beta 1
Receptor Antagonist in Npr1 Gene-Knockout Mice. Faseb J. Volume 33, Issue 1,
supplement, Apr 2019. #531.10
Visniauskas B, Wong CTU, Crabtree S, Hong J, Reverte V, Rosales CB,
Mostany R, Prieto MC. High plasma soluble prorenin receptor (sPRR) levels
correlate with systolic blood pressure in aged male but not in female mice. Faseb
J. Volume 33, Issue 1, supplement, Apr 2019. #758.7
Xu J, Molinas A, Zsombok A, and Lazartigues E. ADAM17 on glutamatergic
neurons contributes to peripheral immune activation through increasing
sympathetic activity. Faseb J. Volume 33, Issue 1, supplement, Apr 2019. #740.6
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 78
APS/ASN Renal Summer Conference: Control of Renal Function in Health and
Disease, Charlottesville, VA – June 23-27, 2019
Kulthinee S, Shao W, Brand G, Franco M, Navar LG. Purinergic P2X receptor
and angiotensin AT1 receptor interactions in the regulation of preglomerular renal
microcirculation in angiotensin II dependent hypertension. #12.4
Richfield O, Cortez R, Navar LG. Shear stress is normalized while hoop stress
remains elevated in the diabetic rat glomerulus: A modeling study. #4.4
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 79
10. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Sponsored Projects Dates Direct
Costs
Indirect
Costs Total
Andrei Derbenev:
NIH – NHLBI: RO1HL122829
(PI)
Sympathetic control and
hypertension via brainstem
cannabinoid signaling
06/01/18-
05/31/19
$271,573 $103,553 $375,126
Jean-Pyo Lee:
NIH – NINDS: RO1 NS110370
Combination treatment of
ischemic stroke with perlecan DV
and neural stem cells
12/15/18-
11/30/19
$348,902 $132,638 $481,540
L. Gabriel Navar:
NRSA NIH-NIDDK:
1F31DK121445 (Owen
Richfield/Navar)
Develop of a computational
biomechanics model of the
glomerulus to assess the risk of
mechanical stress-induced
glomerular injury
05/10/19-
05/16/20
$29,016 $0 $29,016
NIH - NIGMS: 1P30GM103337
Translational Research in
Hypertension and Renal Biology
08/01/18-
07/31/19
$68,999 $30,795 $99,794
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 80
NIH - NHLBI–University of
Virginia: Subaward No
GB10298-01A1
MD-INMD-EN Renal AT2
Receptors in Hypertension
04/01/18-
03/31/19
$30,000 $15,150 $45,150
Janssen Scientific Affairs,
LLC: 28431754DIA4010 (PI)
Role of Kidney production of AGT
in the reduction of BP by SGLT2
Inhibition under diabetic and non-
diabetic conditions
07/01/17-
05/31/19
$1,786 $897 $2,683
Kailash N. Pandey:
NIH - NHLBI: 5R01HL062147
Study of ANP Receptor: Gene
targeting and expression
04/01/18-
03/31/19
$250,000 $126,250 $376,250
Tulane-Carol Lavin Bernick
Faculty Grant Award
ANP Receptor-Molecular
Approach of Signaling
Mechanisms
07/01/18-
06/30/19
$10,000 $0 $10,000
Minolfa Prieto:
NIH - NIDDK: 1R01DK104375
Pleiotropic effects of prorenin
receptor in the collecting duct and
intrarenal RAS activation
07/01/18-
06/30/19
$225,000 $113,625 $338,625
NIH – CCTS-UAB Partner
Network Multidisciplinary Pilot
04/01/18-
03/31/19
$18,616 $0 $18,616
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 81
Impact of plasma soluble
prorenin receptor in obese & type
2 diabetic patients
APS
Sex differences in the epigenetics
regulation of AGT in proximal
tubule cells using dCRISPR-
Casp9 technology
08/01/18-
07/31/19
$20,000 $0 $20,000
Ryosuke Sato:
NIH NIDDK: 1RO1DK107694
(PI)
Histone Deacetylase 9 is an
Epigenetic Suppressor of
Intrarenal Angiotensinogen,
Serving as a Key Mechanism in
Angiotensinogen Augmentation in
Hypertension
12/01/17-
11/30/18
$162,000 $81,810 $243,810
Janssen Scientific Affairs,
LLC: 28431754DIA4010 (Co-PI)
Role of Kidney production of AGT
in the reduction of BP by SGLT2
Inhibition under diabetic and non-
diabetic conditions
07/01/17-
05/31/19
$1,786 $897 $2,683*
T. Cooper Woods:
NIH NHLBI: R01HL127092 (PI)
Role of VSMC-Derived
Exosomes in the Cardiovascular
Complications of Diabetes
03/01/18-
02/28/19
$263,750 $113,625 $377,375
Janssen Scientific Affairs,
LLC: 28431754DIA4010 (Co-PI)
07/01/17-
05/31/19
$1,786 $897 $2,683*
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 82
Role of Kidney production of AGT
in the reduction of BP by SGLT2
Inhibition under diabetic and non-
diabetic conditions
CRISP (Clinical Research &
Innovation Support Program) –
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Mapping serum biomarkers of
carotid plaque rupture to intra-
plaque changes: Novel predictors
of stroke
10/01/17-
09/30/18
$16,712 $0 $16,712
Andrea Zsombok:
NIH NIDDK: R01DK099598 (PI)
TRPV1-dependent autonomic
control in diabetes
04/01/18-
03/30/19
$222,500 $112,363 $334,863
NIH NIDDK: R01DK099598 Supplement (PI)
TRPV1-dependent autonomic
control in diabetes
07/01/18-
06/30/19
$229,280 $105,583 $334,863
TOTALS $2,168,134 $936,289 $3,104,423
*Amount is already listed for another faculty member, therefore not added in to compute overall totals.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 83
$0
$500,000
$1,000,000
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
$2,500,000
$3,000,000
$3,500,000
Direct CostsIndirectCosts Total
$2,168,134
$936,289
$3,104,423
Sponsored Projects 2018-2019
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 84
$0
$1
$2
$3
$4
$5
$6
(Mil
lio
ns)
Department of Physiology Extramural Research Funding
2000-Present
Direct Costs Indirect Costs
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 85
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
$450
(Th
ou
san
ds)
Department of PhysiologyResearch Funds Per Faculty
2000-Present
Direct Costs Indirect Costs
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 86
11. OUTREACH PROGRAM
PARTICIPATION
American Heart Association Heart Walk
The Heart Walk is the American Heart
Association's premiere event for
raising funds to save lives from heart
disease and stroke. This year’s walk
was held at LaSalle Park in Metairie
on November 17, 2018.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 87
World Kidney Day
World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness
of the importance of our kidneys. This year, WKD set out to raise awareness of the
high and increasing burden of kidney diseases worldwide and the need for strategies
for kidney diseases prevention and management. Kidney Health for Everyone
Everywhere calls for universal health coverage (UHC) for prevention and early
treatment of kidney disease. On March 14, 2019, members of the Department of
Physiology and the Tulane Hypertension & Renal Center of Excellence participated in
a health screening event.
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 88
12. DEPARTMENTAL & OTHER EVENTS
L. Gabby Navar Symposium Dinner
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 89
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 90
Halloween in the Department of Physiology
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 91
Annual Department Appreciation Meeting
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 92
2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Department of Physiology
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019 93
Department Meeting – Certificates Awarded
Alex Castillo – 15 Years of Service
Dr. Kenneth Mitchell – 30 Years of Service
Dr. Weijian Shao – 20 Years of Service
Dr. T. Cooper Woods – 5 Years of Service
Rose Grace – Outstanding Staff Award
Dr. L. Gabriel Navar – 30 Years of Service
Tulane University Prepared by:
Department of Physiology Debbie Olavarrieta
2017-2018 Annual Report Operations Manager