Her research focuses on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic modulation and its role in vascular pathologies. She is interested in redox signaling and the cytoskeleton, and how metabolism and mitochondrial pathways affect VSMC phenotype.

a. PhD Students Directly Supervised:

2006-2012 Holly William, Graduate Student, Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Program, Emory University
2010-2013 Minyoung Lee, Graduate Student, Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Program, Emory University
2020-present Bethany Bogan, Graduate Student, Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Program, Emory University
2021-present Claire Holden, Graduate Student, Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Program, Emory University

b. Post-doctoral Fellows Directly Supervised:

2008-2011 Abel Garrido
2009-2010 Zhen Yang
2010-2012 Hope Gole
2011-2012 Marcelo Montenegro
2011-2013 Candace Adamo
2013-2015 Charity Duran
2013-2018 Alejandra Valdivia
2014-2015 Gloria Torres
2015-2017 Kely Sheldon
2015-2021 Holly Williams
2016-2022 Felipe Paredes

c. Other:

2008-2010 Mithunan Maheswaranathan, in 2-semester research project and honor thesis project. He graduated summa cum laude.
2011-2012 Isabel Fernandez, in 2-semester research project and honor thesis project.
2015 Matthew Tillman, PhD student, Molecular and System Pharmacology program, laboratory rotation, Emory University
2018 Izabela Suster, PhD student, Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology (BCDB) program, Emory University, laboratory rotation
2014 Felipe Paredes, PhD student, Biomedical Science program, laboratory rotation, University of Chile, Chile, laboratory rotation
2016 David Moncada-Ruff, PhD student, Biomedical Science program, University of Chile, Chile, laboratory rotation
2017 Fernanda Sanhueza-Olivares, Master student, Biomedical Science program, University of Chile, Chile, laboratory rotation
2017 Macarena Tejos, Research associate, Department of Neuroscience, University of Chile, Chile, laboratory rotation
2018 Karime França, Postdoctoral fellow, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Departamento de Patologia Básica Curitiba PR, Brazil, laboratory rotation
2018 Izabela Suster, PhD student, Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology (BCDB) program, Emory University, laboratory rotation

Patents

International PCT Application No. PCT/US2023/037103
Title: Uses of Hydroimidazopyridopyrimidinone Derivatives for Managing Aneurysms or Other Vascular Conditions or Diseases

Lectureships, Seminar Invitations, and Visiting Professorships

2007 “NADPH oxidases in vascular pathology.” Faculty of Biological Science, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
2008 “Mechanism of PDGF-induced migration in vascular smooth muscle.” University of Iowa Cardiovascular Research Center, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
2009 “Mechanism of PDGF-induced migration in vascular smooth muscle.” Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
2010 “Mechanism of vascular smooth muscle migration: role of SSH1L.” Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University
2011 “Role of SSH1L phosphatase in smooth muscle migration.” Faculty of Biological Science, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
2012 “Redox-activated slingshot/cofilin pathway regulates actin dynamics and inflammatory gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cell.” Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
2012 “Role of the actin binding protein cofilin in the VSMC response to mechanical stress.” Highlighted Research, Department of Medicine Research Day,Emory University
2012 “Redox-mediated signaling in vascular smooth muscle cell migration and cytoskeleton reorganization.” Smooth Muscle, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) meeting, Snowmass Village, Colorado, USA
2013 “Redox regulation of the cytoskeleton: attachment, mechanical transduction and inflammation.” Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University
2013 “Redox regulation of the cytoskeleton: attachment, mechanical transduction and inflammation.” Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care,Emory University
2013 “The role of Nox proteins in the regulation of the cytoskeleton of the vascular smooth muscle cells.” Center of Molecular Studies of the Cell, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
2014 “Multiple roles of Poldip2 in the phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells.” Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
2015 “Multiple roles of Poldip2 in the phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells.” Department of Cell Biology, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
2015 “Cytoskeleton regulation and its role in vascular biology.” Chilean Society for Biochemistry annual meeting, Puerto Varas, Chile
2015 “Oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiovascular injury and protection.” Annual Scientific Sessions, American Heart Association, Orlando, USA
2016 “Redox regulation of the cytoskeleton in vascular smooth muscle cells.” Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, The University of Georgia, USA
2016 “Diverse roles of NADPH oxidases in the vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype.” Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
2016 “Poldip2 regulates cellular metabolism under hypoxia.” Department of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
2016 “Control of actin cytoskeleton by NADPH oxidases.” Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University
2016 “Modulation of smooth muscle function by NADPH oxidases.” Program in Molecular and System Pharmacology, Emory University
2017 “Poldip2-mediated regulation of cell metabolism under hypoxia” Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University
2017 “Regulation of protein lipoylation by Poldip2 promotes metabolic adaptation to hypoxia.” Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2017 “Regulation of mitochondrial function by Poldip2 supports hypoxia and cancer cell metabolic adaptation.” Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
2018 “Identification of a novel pathway controlling cell metabolism” Department of Medicine Research Day, Emory University
2018 “Control of mitochondrial metabolism by Poldip2 regulates VSMC phenotype and vascular properties” International Society for Heart Research, Huilo-Huilo, Los Ríos Region, Chile
2019 “Poldip2 controls vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype” Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University
2021 “Metabolic Control of Smooth Muscle Phenotype”, Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel hill
2021 “Metabolic Control of Smooth Muscle Phenotype”, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh
2023 “Role of the mitochondrial protease Clpp in the vasculature”, PNAM in Physiological Sciences, Puerto Varas, Chile

Society Memberships

2002-present Chilean Society for Cell Biology
2002-present American Heart Association, ATVB Council
2002-present Society for Redox Biology and Medicine (SFRBM)
2011-present The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2015-present The American Society for Cell Biology