COCVD

COCVD INVESTIGATORS

The COCVD supports five research projects that focus on critical mechanisms by which obesity may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease that has increased in incidence and severity with the prevalence of obesity. While the epidemic of obesity in the United States has spurred considerable research into genetic and behavioral factors that impact the development of obesity, and which link obesity to type II diabetes, few investigators with expertise in the cardiovascular system have entered obesity research.

The COCVD framework consists of established senior faculty who provide mentored research experience in an interdisciplinary environment to promising junior investigators working in the area of obesity and cardiovascular disease. The University of Kentucky is fortunate to have considerable depth in senior, well-funded faculty with extensive experience in mentoring and who use state-of-the-art integrative, clinical, cellular and molecular approaches to the study of obesity and cardiovascular disease

The COCVD has assembled a unique team of junior investigators who have previous research experience in obesity or cardiovascular disease, strong records of research productivity, and an excellent scientific background. The team of junior investigators, representing both physicians and basic scientists, work together as researchers in an integrated environment to translate findings from the bench to bedside to significantly impact the epidemic of obesity in the nation. This focused, in-depth research experience promotes continued growth of their research programs and lays the foundation for them to successfully compete for NIH funding.

IKKbeta links macrophage inflammation to atherosclerosis
Changcheng Zhou, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences
College of Medicine

Maternal Consumption of a Western Diet Promotes Obesity and Hypertension in Offspring
Kevin J. Pearson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences
College of Medicine

Platelet Activation with Obesity Promotes Atherothrombotic Vascular Events
Zhenyu Li, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiology
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine

Role of adipose tissue TGF-b signaling on adipose dysfunction in obesity
Brian S. Finlin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Endocrinology
Department of Internal Medicine

Quantifying the effect of obesity and comorbid hypertension on cardiac function in children and mice
Brandon Fornwalt, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Division of Pediatrics and Biomedical Engineering Research, Department of Internal Medicine

The role of human lipin1 in skeletal muscle function
Hongmei Ren. Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Division of Cardiology, Internal Medicine

Role of bioactive lipids in the protective pathways of obesity in ischemic cardiomyopathy
Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Ph.D, Assistant Professor
Department of Internal Medicine Division of Cardiology.