2022 Vascular and Heart Research Symposium
2022 VASCULAR AND HEART RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Sept. 19, 2022
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
4 Riverside Circle, Roanoke VA

Forging new collaborations in the Mid-Atlantic region
The inaugural Vascular and Heart Research Symposium, hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and its Center for Vascular and Heart Research, will bring together experts in cardiovascular fields from across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Researchers will foster interdisciplinary projects in vascular and cardiac studies to encourage functional comparisons and forge new collaborations.
Please register by Sept. 12, 2022.
Please submit an abstract to be considered for a poster presentation. The deadline to register or submit a poster is Aug. 12, 2022.
Symposium Schedule
7:30 - 8:00: Registration, coffee, networking and poster set-up
8:00 - 8:20: Introduction, Rob Gourdie, Ph.D., Director, Center for Vascular and Heart Research
Session I
8:00 - 8:40: Brant Isakson, Ph.D.
8:40 - 9:00: Rob Gourdie, Ph.D.
9:00 - 9:20: Steve Poelzing, Ph.D.
9:20 - 9:40: Break: Coffee / Posters
Session II
9:40 - 10:00: Joseph Miano, Ph.D.
10:00 - 10:20: John Chappell, Ph.D.
10:20 - 10:40: Scott Johnstone, Ph.D.
10:40 - 11:00: Joshua Adams, M.D. - "Global Aortic Disease Awareness Day"
Session III
11:00 - 12:00: Roundtable Discussion
Lunch
12:00 - 1:40: Lunch and Poster Session
Session IV
1:40 - 2:00: Sharon Gerecht, Ph.D.
2:00 - 2:20: Yassine Sassi, Ph.D.
2:20 - 2:40: James Smyth, Ph.D.
2:40 - 3:00: Break: Coffee / Posters
Session V
3:00 - 3:20: Robert Wirka, M.D.
3:20 - 3:40: Junco Warren, Ph.D.
3:40 - 4:00: Jessica Pfleger, Ph.D.
4:00 - 5:30: Poster Session
5:30 - 5:45: Closing
Keynote Speakers
Sharon Gerecht, Ph.D.
"Vascular differentiation and assembly"
Paul M. Goss Distinguished Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Pratt School of Engineering
Duke University
Brant Isakson, Ph.D.
"A Pannexin Dunning-Kruger Experience"
Professor
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics
Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center
UVa School of Medicine
University of Virginia
Joseph Miano, Ph.D.
"New Mouse Models for Vascular Research"
Professor
J. Harold Harrison, MD, Distinguished University Chair in Vascular Biology
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta University
Robert Wirka, M.D.
"Intersecting Human Genetics and Arterial Biology to Identify the Mechanisms Driving Coronary Artery Disease"
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine and Department of Cell Biology
and Physiology, Division of Cardiology
UNC School of Medicine
University of North Carolina
Featured Speakers
John Chappell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Robert Gourdie, Ph.D., FAHA, AIMBE
Professor and Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund Eminent Scholar in Heart Reparative Medicine Research
Director, Center for Vascular and Heart Research
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Scott Johnstone, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Jessica Pfleger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Steven Poelzing, Ph.D.
Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Yassine Sassi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
James Smyth, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Junco Warren, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC