2023 Vascular and Heart Research Symposium Schedule

8 a.m. Light breakfast and beverages

8:45 a.m. Welcome to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Michael Friedlander, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and Vice President, Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech

8:50 a.m. Welcome to the Center for Vascular and Heart Research: History and Perspectives, Robert Gourdie, Ph.D., FAHA, AIMBE, Professor and Director, Center for Vascular and Heart Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Session 1: Cardiac Metabolism

9 a.m. Konstantinos Drosatos, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati College of Medicine: FGF21: A Critical Element of a Hepatocardiac Signaling Axis that Drives Cardiac Hypertrophy

9:40 a.m. Zhen Yan, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Director, Center for Exercise Medicine Research: AMPK in Metabolic Regulation and Adaptation in Response to Exercise

10 a.m. Jessica Pfleger, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: Novel Pathways Mediating Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

10:20 a.m. Stephen Philips, M.D., Carilion Clinic: Heart Failure Heart Failure: Management in 2023

10:40 a.m. Coffee Break

11 a.m.: Tour of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Session 2: Vascular Cell Signaling and Inflammation

11:30 a.m.: Adam Straub, Ph.D., University of Pittsburg: Redox, Reductases and Resilience: Basic Mechanism and Translational Implications for Cardiovascular Disease

12:10 p.m. Scott Johnstone, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: New Roles For Vascular Inflammation In The Control Of Neointima Formation

12:30 p.m. Liwu Li, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech: Innate Memory Dynamics in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Atherosclerosis

12:50 p.m. Lunch Break & Posters (judged by invited speakers)

Session 3: Cardiovascular and Translational

3 p.m. James West, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center: The BMP Pathway in Vascular Homeostasis

3:40 p.m. Yassine Sassi, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: Targeting the Extracellular Cyclic AMP Pathway as a New Therapeutic Strategy for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

4 p.m. Robert Gourdie, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: Targeting Cardiac Injury with an Orally Administered Exosome-Based Therapeutic

4:20 p.m. Oleg Kim, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech: Cardiovascular Engineering, Platelets

4:40 p.m. Drinks and Reception, 4 Riverside Circle Atrium

Session 4: Vascular Development and Disease

8 a.m. Light breakfast and beverages

9 a.m. Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation: Molecular Insights About Vascular Regression

9:40 a.m. John Chappell, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: Structural and Signaling Cues within the Pericyte Microenvironment during Vascular Development and Dysfunction

10 a.m. Josh Adams, M.D., Carilion Clinic: Out of the Box: Off-label Use of Commercially Available Endovascular Devices

10:20 a.m. Michelle Theus, Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Director, Neurotrauma Research Program, Virginia Tech: Pial Collateral Remodeling in Stroke

10:40 a.m. Coffee Break

Session 5: Cardiac Fibrosis and Conduction

11:00 a.m. Jop Van Berlo, M.D., Ph.D., University of Minnesota Medical School: Septin4 Is a Novel Regulator of Cardiac Fibrosis

11:40 a.m. Mark Warren, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: The Calcium Transient Coupled to the L-Type Calcium Current Attenuates Action Potential Alternans

12 p.m. James Smyth, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: Altered Transcription Informs Translation to Effect an Arrhythmogenic Substrate During Cardiac Stress

12:20 p.m. Steve Poelzing, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: Mixed Modes of Electrical Communication in the Heart

12:40 p.m. Lunch Break

Session 6: Heart Failure

2 p.m. Brian Jensen, M.D. Ph.D., UNC School of Medicine Alpha-1A Adrenergic Receptors: Emerging Mechanisms of Cardioprotection

2:40 p.m. Junco Warren, Ph.D., Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: Plasma Metabolomics in Heart Failure Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

3 p.m. Mark Joseph, M.D., Carilion Clinic: Right Heart Failure Secondary to PE

3:20 p.m. A Word from The American Heart Association - Christie Steele Garcia, Development Director for American Heart Association, Southwestern Virginia

3:30 p.m. Robert Gourdie, Ph.D.: Concluding Remarks and Poster Prizes