Oxidative stress increases with age and likely contributes to a variety of age-related diseases, but the processes by which oxidative stress causes cellular damage and contributes to aging and its associated pathologies are not completely understood. This proposal seeks to study the role of atypical tyrosine isomers, which differ from endogenous tyrosine in the positioning of their hydroxyl group on the benzyl ring, in the harmful effects of oxidative stress.

Basic Research

Basic Research

The purpose of this study is to determine if Apixaban is safer than a Vitamin K Antagonist given for 6 months in terms of bleeding in patients with an irregular heart beat (atrial fibrillation) and a recent heart attack or a recent procedure to open up a blood vessel in the heart. All patients would also be taking a class of medicines called P2Y12 inhibitors (such as clopidogrel/Plavix) and be treated for up to 6 months.

This is a prospective, randomized (the study drug is assigned by chance), double-blind (neither physician nor participant knows the treatment that the participant receives), active-controlled (study in which the experimental treatment or procedure is compared to a standard treatment or procedure), parallel group (each group of participants will be treated at the same time), multicenter (when more than one hospital or medical school team work on a medical research study) study in participants with a recent ACS (STEMI or NSTE-ACS).

Hyperglycemia is the major risk factor for the development of diabetic microvascular complications. The ADA recommends lowering the A1c in T2DM individuals to levels (i.e. HbA1c <6.0-6.5%) 'as close to normal as possible while avoiding hypoglycemia'. The optimal pharmacologic therapy which achieves this goal never has been determined.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has been identified as an important and evolutionary conserved determinant of longevity in invertebrate models and mice. Rapamycin, a small molecule inhibitor of mTOR signaling, has been demonstrated as the first pharmaceutical capable of extending longevity in mice and also delaying or abrogating several age-related diseases in pre-clinical mouse models. Despite the excitement raised by these studies, their potential translational relevance in terms of preventing age-related disease in humans remains unclear.

My long-term goal is to become a pediatric critical care physician-scientist, a translational researcher committed to eliminate complications from advanced technology used to support critically ill children. My current emphasis is to focus on the pathophysiological basis of the untoward effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) devices on blood components. The Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) will provide me with time to gather skills and knowledge as a necessary steps toward becoming an established, independent investigator.

Public Service