Kathrin Banach, PhD — research focuses on the intercellular communication of cardiac
myocytes through gap junction channels. The aim of the laboratory is to understand
the functional relevant electrophysiological properties of gap junctions, as well
as the mechanisms and signal transduction pathways that regulate them under physiological
as well as pathophysiological conditions. In the last years the research of the laboratory
has focused specifically on the role of gap junction channels in the functional integration
of cardiac replacement tissue that was generated from embryonic stem cells.
Marcelo Bonini, PhD - research focuses on contributing to the understanding of the
role of enzyme components of the nitric oxide signaling cascade and oxidative stress
in the regulation of agonist-dependent vasodilation, and the role of signal transduction
pathways involved in the hypotensive effects of nitroglycerin. They use diverse biochemical
and biophysical techniques which include immunochemical-based approaches, confocal
and electron microscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, HPLC, PCR, genetically
modified organisms (cells and knockout animals), fluorescence and UV/Visible spectrometry
to identify the role of nitric oxide synthases, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted
in chromosome 10 (PTEN), PI3k and Akt/PKB in the biological effects elicited by nitroglycerin
and agonist-dependent vasodilation under a variety of physiological and inflammatory
conditions.
Tohru Fukai, PhD - Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of various
cardiovascular diseases. The major focus of Dr. Fukai’s research is the role of extracellular
superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) in cardiovascular disease. The ecSOD is one of the major
copper containing antioxidant enzymes in the vasculature, and plays an important
role in regulating blood pressure, neovascularization, and endothelial function by
preventing oxidative inactivation of NO. Most recently, his laboratory demonstrated
that copper transport system is a key regulator of ecSOD activity and expression.
Thus, the long-term goal of his lab is to determine the role of copper homeostasis
and copper transport system for ecSOD as well as to define their functional relationships
in oxidative stress-dependent cardiovascular disease.
David L. Geenen, PhD - research focuses on the fields of regenerative medicine and
stem cell biology. His particular interest is in the role of adult bone marrow derived
stem cells in regenerating cardiovascular tissue. His laboratory studies the mechanisms
of homing, migration and differentiation of mobilized and exogenously administered
stem cells within the myocardium. He has established rodent models of cardiac ischemia
and heart failure to assess the functional effect of stem cell integration. These
measurements are performed using high resolution echocardiography and intraventricular
pressure/volume catheters as part of the University of Illinois at Chicago's Center
for Cardiovascular Research (CCVR).
Beata Wolska, PhD - research focuses on membrane and myofilament control of cardiac
function, both in physiological and pathological conditions such as hypertrophy and
heart failure (HF). Her first project is focused on understanding the mechanisms
that link altered myofilament activity in the development of hypertrophy and HF and
mutations that cause familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC). Her second research
project examines how nitric oxide regulates cardiac dynamics during different stages
of hypertrophy and HF via alteration of myofilament properties and sarcoplasmic reticulum
function.
