Travis W. Hein, PhD

Education and Training

• Biology, St. Olaf College, BA, 1992
• Texas A&M Health Science Center, PhD, 1997

Research Interests

• The vasomotor responses (vasoconstriction and vasodilation) of arterioles and venules in the microcirculation help regulate the blood flow supply of oxygen and nutrients to and removal of metabolic wastes from tissues/organs to maintain their normal function. Our research focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in vasomotor function of microvessels in health and disease. We are currently investigating how diabetes impacts vasomotor function of retinal and coronary microvessels. Diabetes causes progressive damage of microvessels and neurons in the retina of the eye that can lead to vision loss, and it is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Our studies demonstrate that early diabetes causes abnormal vasomotor regulation of retinal arterioles and venules leading to insufficient blood flow to neural and cardiac cells for proper function.
• In addition, we have shown that diabetes impairs coronary arteriolar vasomotor function that is associate with heart failure. Because effective therapies are lacking to treat microvascular dysfunction in advanced-stage diabetes, our goal is to identify novel destructive proteins in retinal and coronary microvessels that can be targeted for therapy to improve blood flow and consequently retinal and cardiac function in early diabetes before irreversible damage.
• We are also working on projects to identify microvascular changes in the eye that may contribute to vision complications in astronauts, known as spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), during long-duration spaceflight missions. The most common ocular change that occurs in spaceflight is optic disc edema (swelling of the intraocular portion of the optic nerve), but the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. Therefore, we are examining whether spaceflight environment factors of microgravity and ionizing radiation alter vasomotor function of ocular microvessels, which could impact ocular vascular hydrodynamics and promote optic disc edema/SANS.

Awards, Recognition and Service

• 2023 R. KELLY HESTER DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD
• 2021 Elected to The Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators
• 2017 The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University Distinguished Teaching Award - College Level - College of Medicine