CVRI Symposium

The Cardiovascular Research Institute and 

Michael E. DeBakey Institute Research Symposium 

Honoring CVRI Founder
Dr. Harris J. Granger 

Lecture and Poster Sessions at School of Medicine 

Health Professionals Education Building 

Texas A&M Health Campus, Bryan, TX 

August 2-3, 2023 

Downloadable Symposium Booklet (PDF) 500 KB

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Wednesday, August 2, 2023 

11:00 AM 
Registration and Reception 
Lobby of the Health Professionals Education Building 

12:00 PM 
Opening Remarks: 

Welcome Address 
Mariappan Muthuchamy, PhD 
Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute, 
Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health 

Inaugural Address 
Amy L. Waer, MD, FACS 
Jean and Tom McMullin Endowed Dean, 
School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health 

Introductory Remarks
Allison C. Rice-Ficht, PhD
Regents Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Research,
School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health

Introductory Remarks
Rajesh C. Miranda, PhD
Professor, MSCI Graduate Program Director,
School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health

12:30 PM 
Honoring the Founder of CVRI Dr. Granger’s Memory 

David C. Zawieja, PhD 
Executive Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute, 
Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health 

Glen Laine, PhD 
Director, Michael E. DeBakey Institute, 
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, 
School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University 

 Ed W. Childs, MD 
Chair and Professor for Trauma and Critical Care, 
Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Division of Cardiac Biology Session 

 Session Chairs:  
Carl Tong, MD, PhD and Fadi Khasawneh, PhD, RPhD

12:45 PM 
Keynote Speaker 
Douglas Mann, MD 
Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, 
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 

Heart failure with an improved left ventricular ejection fraction: mechanisms, models and management 

1:30 PM 
Sai Sudha Koka, PhD, RPh 
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 
Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 
The role of gut microbiota-derived metabolites in cardiovascular diseases 

1:45 PM 
Xu Peng, MD, PhD 
Department of Medical Physiology, 
School of Medicine, Texas A&M University 
Epitranscriptomic regulation in heart failure 

2:00 PM 
Zhenyu Li, PhD 
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 
Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy, 
Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 
cGMP regulates platelet activation and thrombosis 

2:15 PM 
Break 

2:30 PM 
Fadi Khasawneh PhD, RPh 
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 
Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 
The Impact of Novel Tobacco Products on Platelet Function and Thrombogenesis 

2:45 PM 
Ravindranath Duggirala, PhD 
Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University San Antonio 
San Antonio Mexican American Family Studies: Genetics and Genomics of Complex Diseases

3:00 PM
Jacob D. Kuempel
METTL14-mediated N6-methyladenosine Modifica9onofm RNA is
Required for Maintaining Cardiac Function and Adaptive Hypertrophic Remodeling

3:10 PM
Tanmay Mukherjee
Detection of biomechanical alterations in the left ventricledue toradiation-induced cardiotoxicity

3:20 PM
Siara K.Rouzer
Exposure to cannabinoids and alcohol during the second trimester impairs arterial resistance and increases cardiac stroke volume in fetal cerebral arteries

Roozbeh Jafari, PhD and Sel Kaan, PhD
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University 

Kia Parsi, MD
Executive Director, Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute 

3:45 PM 
Group Picture and Poster Session I 

6:30 PM 
Dinner at TaD’s Louisiana Cooking, College Station 

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Thursday, August 3, 2023 

7:45 AM 
Registration and Continental Breakfast 
Lobby of Health Professionals Education Building 

Division of Lymphatic Biology Session 

Session Chairs: 
Sanjukta Chakraborty, PhD and Joseph M. Rutkowski, PhD 

8:30 AM 
Keynote Speaker
Timothy Padera, PhD 
Associate Professor, Rullo Family MGH Research Scholar, 
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 
The lymphatic system in health and disease 

9:15 AM 
Brett M. Mitchell, PhD 
Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine,Texas A&M University 
Renal Immune Cell Trafficking in Hypertension 

9:30 AM 
Sanjukta Chakraborty, PhD 
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University 
Inflammatory microenvironment and tumor-lymphatic crosstalk in tumor progression 

9:45 AM 
Keri N. Norman, PhD 
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, 
School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 
The Food Safety Concern of Lymph Nodes in the Agricultural Industry 

10:00 AM 
Break 

10:15 AM 
Feng Zhao, PhD 
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University 
Structured cell-derived extracellular matrix for vascular engineering 

10:30 AM 
Walter E. Cromer, PhD 
Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University 
Evidence for lymphatic transport errors in the GI track during Space flight 

10:45 AM 
Mariappan Muthuchamy, PhD 
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University 
Lymphatics-inflammation-disease pathogenesis axis in metabolic, neuromuscular diseases and beyond… 

11:00 AM
Saranya Kannan, PhD
Impact of VEGFR-3 signaling on macrophage polarization in kid-ney injury

11:10 AM
Sukanya Roy
Inhibition of CXCR2 targets tumor-infiltrating g-MDSCs and T cell exhaustion to suppress immune evasion and lymphangiogenesis in cholangiocarcinoma

11:20 AM
Shedreanna Johnson
Pathogenesis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is Associated with Decreased Lymph Transport in Hindlimb and Inflammatory Lymphangiogenesis in Fast-Twitch Skeletal Muscle 

11:30 AM
Poster Session II and catered lunch 

Division of Vascular Biology Session 

Session Chairs: 
Cristine L. Heaps, PhD and Andreea Trache, PhD 

1:30 PM 
Keynote Speaker 
Johnathan Tune, PhD 
Professor and Chair, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 
Disentangling the Gordian Knot of Coronary Microvascular Control in Health and Disease 

2:15 PM 
Travis Hein, PhD
Department of Medical Physiology,
School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health
Impact of Diabetes and Spaceflight on Vasomotor Function of Ocular Microvessels

2:30 PM 
Andreea Trache, PhD 
Department of Medical Physiology, 
School of Medicine, Texas A&M University  
Cellular mechanosensing in vascular aging 

2:45 PM 
Cristine L. Heaps, PhD 
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, 
School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University 
Mechanistic adaptations in vascular resistance of the coronary microcirculation with chronic ischemia and exercise training 

3:00 PM 
Break 

3:15 PM 
Aaron Morton, PhD 
Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, 
School of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University 
Regenerating Soft Tissue in Health and Disease  

3:30 PM 
Kayla Bayless, PhD 
Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, 
School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health 
New markers of angiogenic sprouting 

3:45 PM 
Gladys Ko, PhD 
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University 
Peptide Lv, a new player in angiogenesis 

4:00 PM
Reetu Singh
Endothelial nitric oxide pathway or calcium-activated potassium channels do not mediate lymphatic responses to short-chain fatty acids

4:10 PM
Precious Badejo
Paternal exposure to e-hookah increases the risk of thrombotic disorders

4:20 PM
Weiming Xu
Blood Coagulation Testing Using a Smartphone

Awards and Conclusion 

4:30 PM 
Award Presentations: 
Farida Sohrabji, PhD and Van G. Wilson, PhD 

4:45 PM 
Concluding Remarks: 
David C. Zawieja, PhD 

5:00 PM 
Social