Mechanisms and Innovations in Cardiovascular Disease
Current Fellows
Jason Szafron, PhD
3/1/2021 – 2/28/2023
Project: Understanding disease progression in pediatric pulmonary hypertension through patient-specific simulations of vascular growth and remodeling
Mentor: Alison Marsden, PhD
High blood pressure in the lungs makes the heart work harder to pump against the increased load, which eventually causes heart failure and death. In children, this disease can progress rapidly, and treatment options are limited. Cells within the lung sense the frictional force from blood flow and eventually become dysfunctional when this force changes from the normal level. However, this force is difficult to measure directly. I aim to build a computer model that simulates the frictional forces and then predicts how they affect cell behavior and the blood vessel wall. I hope the model can be used to identify new treatment targets for interrupting the cells’ transition to a dysfunctional state and prevent disease progression.
Colwyn Headley, PhD
5/1/2021 – 4/30/2023
Project: Mitochondrial Phoenix: The dysfunction, transplantation, and rejuvenation of mitochondria in cardiovascular disease.
Mentor: Philip Tsao, PhD
My research is centered around aging-associated changes in mitochondrial metabolism and signaling within cardiovascular and immune cells, and their dynamic interplay, which often favors chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular disease progression. I will examine whether rejuvenating mitochondria or boosting the delivery of mitochondrial-signaling intermediates improves vascular function and decreases cellular senescence. My long-term goal is to establish an independent research program centered on mitochondria-related signaling in the immuno-cardio-metabolic axis, and its impact on biological aging, and aging-associated co-morbidities.
Katharina Schimmel, PhD
8/1/2021 – 7/31/2023
Project: Elucidating the Pathogenesis of Arteriovenous Malformations
Mentor: Edda Spiekerkoetter, MD
I am interested in the pathogenesis of visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), abnormal connections between arteries and veins, that are a characteristic for the disease Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. To better understand the molecular and cellular events that trigger AVM formation, I am currently creating a mouse model that develops pulmonary AVMs. This new animal model will be used, together with clinical patient samples, to determine presence of pathologically relevant secondary hits that might be necessary to drive focal AVM formation in addition to the underlying genetic susceptibility due to haplo-insufficient germline mutations in HHT causing genes such as Endoglin, ACVRL1/ALK-1 and SMAD4. Insights gained in these studies will inform us about future therapeutic strategies to treat AVMs using repurposed drugs.
Shaneice Mitchell, PhD
7/1/2020 – 6/30/2022
Project: Targeting the mechanisms of age-related clonal hematopoiesis impact on cardiovascular diseases
Mentor: Siddartha Jaiswal
My research focus involves reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in individuals harboring clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). I will achieve this by identifying novel small molecule inhibitors and immune-based therapies for the treatment of CHIP. To this end, I have generated an experimental system to easily model the effects of CHIP-associated mutations in a human cell line.
Heyjun Park, PhD, RD
9/1/2020 – 8/31/2022
Project: Sleep optimization may improve adverse glucose outcomes among individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes who are at risk for cardiovascular diseases
Mentor: Michael Snyder
My research focuses on the role of diet (i.e., meal timing, regularity, frequency) and sleep in diabetes onset and progression. The evidence is growing that diet and sleep are closely related to each other, suggesting that their interactions may have synergistic effects on the development of adverse metabolic outcomes. Therefore, this study will utilize a real-time food tracking mobile app, a sleep tracking wearable device, and continuous glucose monitoring technologies, and will quantify dynamic relationships between diet, sleep, and glucose regulation in population at risk for T2D.
Past Fellows
Xiaoming Ouyang, PhD
7/1/2018 – 6/31/2019
Project: Modeling TKI Vascular Toxicity Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs)
Mentors: Joseph Wu, MD, PhD, and Wing Hung Wong, PhD
Currently a Senior Scientist, Allogene Therapeutics
Stephanie Lindsey, PhD
11/1/2018 – 10/31/2020
Project: Development and Optimization of TEVGs by Accurately Accounting for Growth and Remodeling in Neovessel Formation
Mentors: Alison Marsden, PhD, and Jeffrey Feinstein, MD
Currently an Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC San Diego
Marcy Martin, PhD
2/1/2019 – 01/31/2021
Project: Preventing Progression and Inducing Regression of Cardiopulmonary Disease
Mentors: Marlene Rabinovitch, MD, and Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD
Kenneth Tran, MD
08/01/2019 – 07/31/2021
Project: Developing Computation Fluid Dynamic Models for Assessing Hemodynamic Perforance of Branched, Fenstrated and Mixed Endograft Designs for the Para-visceral Segment of the Aorta
Mentors: Jason Lee, MD and Alison Marsden, PhD
Currently a Vascular Surgery Resident at Stanford University
Alexander Kaiser, PhD
7/1/2018 - 6/30/2019
Project: Modeling and Simulation of the Mitral Valve
Mentors: Alison Marsden, PhD, and William Hiesinger, MD
currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford
Sheeva Rajaei, MD
07/01/2017 – 06/30/2019
Project: A Mendelain Randomization Study of Breast Feeding Duration and the Risk of Adverse Cardiometabolic Traits and Outcomes
Mentors: Themistocles "Tim" Assimes, PhD and Mark Hlatky, MD
Ian Williams, PhD
10/1/2018 - 09/30/2020
Project: Engineering Patient-Specific Microvascular Beds for Regenerative Medicine, Disease Modeling, and Drug Screening Applications
Mentors: Kristy Red-Horse, PhD, and Ngan Huang, PhD
Amber Smith, PhD
12/1/2015 - 11/30/2017
Project: Exploration of hysteresis during miR-126-mediated lymphangiogenesis; and exploration of miR-126 hysteresis in blood endothelial cells.
Mentor: Calvin Kuo, MD, PhD
currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford
Abbygail Foster, PhD
10/1/2015 - 9/30/2017
Project: The use of biomaterials to probe cell interactions and modulate cell function with the goal of translating insights to clinically relevant regenerative cardiovascular therapies.
Mentor: Sarah Heilshorn, PhD
NHLBI K01 recipient, currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford
Jin Qian, MD, PhD
7/1/2016 - 6/30/2018
Project: Development of PAH by progressive infiltration of activated macrophages that secrete LTB4 in the lung and mediate vascular remodeling
Mentor: Mark Nicolls, MD
currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford Medicine, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System
Patrick Thompson, MD
07/01/2017 – 06/30/2018
Project: Innovation in Medical Devices and Technology that Address Important Unmet Healthcare Needs: Developing Health Technology to Transform Patient Care
Mentors: Todd Brinton, MD, and Ronald Dalman, MD
University Biodesign, PHIND, and Seed Grant recipient, currently a Resident at Stanford
Danielle Nagelberg, PhD
10/1/2016 - 10/1/2018
Project: Role of Ino80 in Coronary Artery Development Through Regulation of Endothelial Metabolic States.
Mentors: Kristy Red-Horse, PhD; co-mentor: Ashby Morrison, PhD
Nathan Itoga, MD
7/1/2016 - 6/30/2017
Project: Identifying and Reducing Variability of Operating Room Supplies and Diagnostic Imaging in Vascular Surgery Patients
Mentor: Matthew Mell, MD
currently a Vascular Surgery Resident at Stanford University
Elias Levy Itshak Salfati, PhD
7/1/2016 - 3/15/2017
Mentor: Themistocles "Tim" Assimes, PhD
currently a Senior Staff Scientist at Scripps Research Institute
Daniel Kaiser, MD
7/1/2014 - 6/30/2016
Project: Attributable risk vascular disease confers to thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation
Mentor: Mintu Turakhia, MD, PhD
currently The Kary and David Duncan Chair of Medical Device Innovation at St. Helena Hospital
Evangeline Tzatzalos, PhD
7/1/2013 - 6/30/2016
Project: Measuring Contractile Force Generation in Normal and Disease States of the Cardiovascular System
Mentors: Joseph Wu, MD; Ellen Kuhl, PhD; Chris Constantinou
currently a Senior Scientist at VitroLabs, Inc.
Theresa Dinh, PhD
7/1/2014 - 5/30/2016
Project: Control mechanisms of lymphatic endothelial cell-specific expression of FVIII
Mentors: Eugene C. Butcher, MD; Lawrence Leung, MD
AHA PTDF recipient, currently a Process Development Engineer at Innovative Micro Technology
Karina Nakayama, PhD
7/1/2014 - 6/30/2015
Project:
Extracellular matrix rigidity modulation of endothelial transdifferentiation from fibroblasts
Mentors:
Ngan Huang, PhD; Phil Tsao, PhD
AHA PTDF, NIH F32, Foundation Grant, and NIH K99 recipient, currently an Instructor in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford
Daniel DiRenzo
9/15/2014 - 9/14/2015
Project: Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of TGF-β/Smad3 Stimulated Smooth Muscle Cell De-differentiation; Utilizing Smad3 Mutants to Dissect the Role of TGF-β in Neo-intimal Hyperplasia; Examining Novel Crosstalk Between TGF-β and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in vascular SMCs
Mentors: Nicholas Leeper, MD; Sean Wu, MD, PhD
AHA PTDF recipient, currently a Scientist at Arcus Biosciences
Elsie Ross, MD
12/1/2014 - 10/30/2015
Project:
Use of Unstructured Clinical, Radiographic and Biologic Data to Predict Risk, Presence and Progression of Peripheral Artery Disease
Mentors: Nigam Shah, PhD; Matthew Mell, MD; Nicholas Leeper, MD
Foundation Jr Faculty Grant recipient, currently an Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery at Stanford
Jessica Shang, PhD
9/1/2015 - 6/30/2016
Project:
Optimization of a novel surgical design for pediatric single ventricle heart patients
Mentor:
Alison Marsden, PhD
DOE FES, NIA R01, and DOD ONR recipient, currently an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rochester University
Kelly Putnam-Downing, PhD
12/1/2012 - 11/30/2013
Project: The Role of CDKN2B in Angiogenesis
Mentor: Nick Leeper, MD
NHLBI T32 recipient, currently a DPT Student at University of CO Denver
Stephanie M. Piecewicz, PhD
7/1/2012 - 7/30/2013
Project: Endothelial-Hepatocyte Signaling Crosstalk Regulates Glucose Metabolism
Mentors: Calvin Kuo, MD, PhD; John Cooke, MD, PhD
currently a Sr Program Manager, Program and Portfolio Mgmt, Translational Research at Ultragenyx Pharm Inc.
Brian Piening, PhD
9/1/2013 - 6/30/2014
Project: A Genomic Check-up: Large-scale Monitoring of Molecular Changes in the Blood
Mentors: Michael Snyder, PhD; Tracey McCoughlin, PhD
NIH F32 recipient, currently an Assistant Member at Earle A. Chiles Research Institute
Zhifei Shao, MD, PhD
7/1/2012 - 6/30/2014
Project: Thrombomodulin in Vascular Inflammation and Adaptive Immunity: a Role beyond Anti-coagulation
Mentors: Lawrence Leung, MD; Phil Tsao, PhD; John Morser, PhD
currently a Senior Associate Scientist, Inflammation-Oncology at Amgen
Sharla Powell-White, PhD
7/1/2012 - 6/30/2014
Project: The Effect of Glycemic conditions on Vascular Dysfunction and Associated Treatments
Mentors: Wei Zhou, MD; Phil Tsao, PhD
currently an Associate Director of Research and Development at ClearLight Diagnostics
Wendy Altman, PhD
7/1/2012 - 6/30/2014
Project: Microsystems and Methodologies for the Study of Cardiomyocyte Mechanotransduction
Mentors: Beth Pruitt, PhD; Dan Bernstein, MD
currently a Process Development Engineer at Innovative Micro Technology
Jordan Plews, PhD
7/1/2011 - 8/31/2012
Project: Study of Molecular Mechanisms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Using an iPSC Model
Mentors: Joseph Wu, MD, PhD; Marlene Rabinovitch, MD
currently a Chief Science Officer at Factor Five Regenerative Skincare
Hui Xu, PhD
9/1/2010 - 8/31/2012
Project: Engineering Microenvironments to Study and Manipulate Cell Migration
Mentors: Sarah Heilshorn, PhD; John Cooke, MD, PhD
currently a Sr. Scientist in Product Development at GRAIL Inc.
Ranjan Ray, MD, PhD
7/1/2011 - 7/30/2013
Project: The Role of TCF21 in Coronary Vascular Development and Disease
Mentors: Thomas Quertermous, MD; Pilar Ruiz-Lozano, PhD
currently an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist at Sutter Health, Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Nazish Sayed, MD, PhD
9/1/2010 - 8/31/2012
Project: Role of Innate Immunity in Nuclear Reprogramming
Mentors: John Cooke, MD, PhD; Edward Mocarski, PhD; Karla Kierkegaard, PhD
NIH F32, AHA SDG, NHLBI U01, University TRAM, and NHLBI K01 recipient, currently an Instructor at Stanford