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Featured Faculty

Jerome Breslin I-3790-2012

Jerome Breslin, PhD

Director of Graduate Programs, College of Medicine Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology
  • My research area of interest is inflammation, with emphasis on the mechanisms that underlie swelling of tissues, or edema. Our laboratory focuses on two phenomena: First, we aim to understand the molecular signaling pathways and effector molecules in endothelial cells that initiate, sustain, and regulate the increased microvascular permeability that accompanies inflammation. This is important for understanding how excess fluid can accumulate in tissues. Second, we are studying the molecular mechanisms that control the intrinsic pumping of lymphatic vessels, which contributes to removing excess fluids from tissues. Understanding how these processes work is important for developing better strategies for resuscitation of trauma patients, wound healing, and optimizing immune function.
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Hana Totary-Jain

Hana Totary-Jain, PhD

Associate Professor, Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology
  • Our research is focused on elucidating the role of non-coding RNA in vascular diseases. We are currently working on two different areas: 1) use non-coding RNA to confer tissue specificity to novel therapeutics for vascular diseases, including coronary artery stent restenosis. 2) Study the role of microRNA in infantile hemangioma
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Congratulations to Mr. John Lockhart!

We would like to congratulate Mr. John Lockhart, who has been awarded with the 2019 Keystone Symposia Scholarship and has also been invited to give a short talk about his submitted abstract entitled, “Effective Delivery of Therapeutic mRNA using Peptide-Based Nanoparticles.” This work was done in collaboration with the laboratories of Dr. Hua Pan and Dr. Samuel Wickline using a novel-based peptide nanoparticle system for oligonucleotide delivery. Mr. Lockhart is a Ph.D. candidate being mentored, by Dr. Hana Totary-Jain, who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology. The Keystone Symposia will take place on April 7 – 10, 2019 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We are very proud of Mr. Lockhart’s accomplishments - Congratulations!
Dr. Bibhu Mohanty - Tips on Heart Health
Surface TAS2R14-WT expression with DPD treatment in HEK293T cells

Articles

A Genome-Wide Association Study of Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy in African Americans
Plot of the odds of developing idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (a form of heart failure) from various genetic variations on chromosome 2. A variation in a calcium channel subunit (CACNB4) showed the greatest risk for developing the disease. The population is African-American, and the results are from a recent study published from the Heart Institute.

Modulation of LIN28B/Let-7 Signaling by Propranolol Contributes to Infantile Hemangioma Involution
Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common benign vascular neoplasms of infancy, characterized by a rapid growth phase followed by a spontaneous involution, or triggered by propranolol treatment by poorly understood mechanisms. LIN28/let-7 axis plays a central role in the regulation of stem cell self-renewal and tumorigenesis. However, the role of LIN28B/let-7 signaling in IH pathogenesis has not yet been elucidated.

USF Health Institute News

MicroRNAs may be crucial to normal placental development
3/16/2020
USF Health researchers applied CRISPR technology to study the very large human non-protein coding gene expressed only in placenta, stem cells and certain cancers TAMPA, Fla (March 16, 2020) — The placenta, an organ which attaches to the lining of the uterus during pregnancy, supplies maternal … [read more]
USF Health Heart Institute moves first laboratories to new building
2/18/2020
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B6tqiCaCMA The first six USF Health Heart Institute laboratories have begun the move into their new space on the 6th and 7th floors of the new Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM) building in Water Street Tampa. It doesn’t happen overnight. Planning began back in summer 201 … [read more]
New study identifies inflammatory molecules controlling capillary loss common in many diseases
1/28/2020
Using an innovative cellular model, the USF Health-led study also discovers drug combinations to prevent degeneration of these tiniest blood vessels Many diseases arise from abnormalities in our capillaries, tiny exquisitely branching blood vessel networks that play a critical role in tissue health. … [read more]
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