Biography

My research focus, over the years, has been on deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which obesity and hyperglycemia induces the development and progression of cardiovascular and kidney complications.  Both in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal models have been utilized in our studies and resulted in numerous publications in this field.  Our research has been supported by funding from American Heart Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and American Society of Nephrology. Currently, we are working on a NIH-NIDDK funded grant (R01) to determine the mechanisms by which hyperglycemia activates renal renin-angintensin system and its contribution to the development of diabetic renal and vascular complication. We are also working on VA funded Merit Review Award to determine whether increased PKG activity protect against diabetic renal complications. All these studies will lead to the potential therapeutic interventions for treatment of diabetic complicaitons.