Abhinav Kanwal, M.S. Pharm., Ph.D
Post-Doctoral Scholar
Funding support: National Institute of Health (NIH)
[email protected]
[email protected]
773-834-4648
Research Goals
Diabetes mellitus is a global epidemic,increasing rapidly in every part of the world. This metabolic disorder of complex biology is associated with many cardiovascular complications. One of the endogenous molecules which regulate the activities of many key genes responsible for metabolism, cell defense, stabilization etc. are the “sirtuins”. Hence, my research is focused, how these “sirtuins” mechanistically helps in overcoming the diabetes related cardiovascular complications. The ultimate aim of my research findings is to translate them clinically in human patients.
Vinodkumar B. Pillai, Ph.D
Research Professional Associate
Funding support: NIH grants
[email protected]
773-834-4648
Research Goals
All the seven sirtuins (SIRT1-SIRT7) have been implicated in a wide variety of cellular processes ranging from cell survival to death. Though there is redundancy in many of their activities, they do play very specific role and are localized in different cellular compartments. Depending on the context and cell type, some of their actions evoke opposite effects. We have found that in heart, while activation of SIRT3 and SIRT6 (localized in nucleus and mitochondria respectively) exert an anti-hypertrophic effect, activation of SIRT1 (localized in nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane) promotes cardiac hypertrophy suggesting that proper management of cardiac hypertrophy requires complete understanding of the role of each sirtuin. No information is available regarding the localization of SIRT2, SIRT4 and SIRT5 in the heart or their roles in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. My focus will be to establish the role of these sirtuins in the development of cardiac hypertrophy using invitro and invivo models.
Sadhana Samant, Ph.D
Research Professional Associate
[email protected]
773-834-4648
Research Goals
Mitochondria are fundamental organelles in eukaryotes with diverse array of functions spanning from energy production to ROS generation. Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in cardiac diseases, including heart failure. In the aging-related disorders of heart function, impairment or suppression of autophagy plays a critical role. I am interested in studying role of mitochondrial class III lysine-deacetylases (sirtuin3, 4 and 5) in mitophagy.
Yong-Hu Fang, MD, Ph.D
Research Professional Associate
Funding support: NIH grant and Departmental Support from Dr W. Sharp (Department of Medicine)
[email protected]
312-813-3293
Research Goals
Analyze the role of sirtuins in ischemia-reperfusion induced cardiac injury and remodeling