Physiology News - Spring 2024

PHYSIOLOGY NEWS

FASILAT HASSAN AWARDED QUIGLEY FELLOWSHIP

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY FACULTY

Zhongjie Sun, MD, PhD, FAHA Professor and Chair

Thomas A. Gerwin Chair of Excellence in Physiology

Ioannis Dragatsis, PhD Professor

Zheng Fan, PhD Professor

Jonathan H. Jaggar, PhD Maury W. Bronstein Professor

Salvatore Mancarella, PhD Associate Professor

Helena Parfenova, PhD Professor

Kaushik Parthasarathi, PhD Associate Professor

Gadiparthi N. Rao, PhD George and Elizabeth Malloy Professor

Radhakrishna Rao, PhD Professor

Donald B. Thomason, PhD Professor Dean, College of Graduate Health Sciences

Gabor J. Tigyi, MD, PhD

Van Vleet Professor

Junwang Xu, PhD Associate Professor

Djamel Lebeche, PhD Professor

Ki-Suk Kim, PhD Assisstant Professor

Rahima Zennadi, PhD Associate Professor

Rajeshwary Ghosh, PhD Assisstant Professor

Graduate student Fasilat Hassan, who works in the lab of Dr. Djamel Lebeche, was awarded the J. Paul Quigley Memorial Fellowship. This annual award goes to the student in the Physiology Department with the highest GPA in the core courses of the Biomedical Sciences PhD program, who is working in the lab of a faculty member whose primary appointment is to Physiology. Fasilat’s GPA at the time of the award decision was a 4.0. In the Lebeche lab, the team that she works with studies molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways contributing to the pathophysiology of hypertrophy and heart failure.

For more information about Fasilat’s research, contact her at dhassanf@uthsc.edu. For information about the Quigley Fellowship, visit https://www.uthsc.edu/physiology/education/awardsscholarships.php

CHRIS PITZER

RECOGNIZED FOR HIS SERVICE TO COUNCIL

Chris Pitzer, a graduate student on the Molecular and Translational Physiology track of the Biomedical Sciences PhD program who works in the lab of Dr. Steven Alway, was recently profiled on the homepage of the UT Health Science Center’s website. This profile was to recognize Chris’s leadership service as President of the Graduate Student Executive Council, which is the UT Health Science Center campus’s student government. Chris’s role as the elected president of this council involves ensuring that the needs of the student population are heard regarding college and campus decisions. The department of Physiology is proud to have one of our own taking on such an important role for student advocacy, while balancing that with his own research, where he is “well on his way to developing into a strong, independent scientist,” in the words of his mentor.

For more information about Chris and his work with the council, contact him at cpitzer1@uthsc.edu. For more information on the GSEC, visit https://uthsc.edu/gsec

This fall, the Physiology Department was pleased to welcome two new faculty members to our team.

Dr. Rajeshwary Ghosh joined the department as an Assistant Professor from the University of Utah. Her lab specializes in delineating the mechanisms of protein degradation pathways in the amelioration of cardiac pathologies.

Dr. Rahima Zennadi came to the Associate Professor role in the department from Duke University. Dr. Zennadi’s lab studies sickle cell disease, aging, and blood-brain-barrier integrity.

Both new colleagues have been hard at work getting their new labs in the Translational Sciences Research Building set up, and research projects in each are underway.

The department is thrilled to welcome both of these researchers and the staff of their labs to our Physiology Department family at UT Health Science Center, and look forward to seeing the results of their innovative research.

To learn more about Dr. Zennadi’s research endeavors, please contact her at rzennadi@uthsc.edu. For Dr. Ghosh’s lab, contact her at rghosh7@uthsc.edu

DR. DJAMEL LEBECHE RECEIVES UT FOUNDATION GRANT

Dr. Djamel Lebeche, Professor in the Department of Physiology, received a 2023 Technology Maturation Grant Award from the UT Research Foundation to develop novel therapy for Diabetes. Dr. Lebeche’s lab seeks to develop small molecules as pharmacotherapies for the treatment of Diabetes and its metabolic complications, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, and inflammation-associated conditions. Initial lead series compounds have been identified and characterized, and in vivo efficacy in diabetic animal models demonstrated that these firstin-class prime hit scaffolds, produced a dramatic improvement in glucose tolerance, and significantly reduced blood glucose, hepatosteatosis, and stroke-induced neurological deficits.

Dr. Lebeche is thankful for the Maturation Grant he received from UTRF, along with funding from the federal government on his projects.

For more information about Dr. Lebeche’s research, please contact him at dlebeche@ uthsc.edu. To learn more about the UT Research Foundation, please visit https://utrf.tennessee.edu

Dr Rajeshwary Ghosh Dr. Rahima Zennadi

DR. GABOR TIGYI AND COLLABORATORS

AWARDED OAK RIDGE GRANT FOR CANCER PROJECT

Dr. Gabor Tigyi, the Harriet Van Vleet Endowment Professor in the Physiology Department at the UT Health Science Center, partnered with a team that has received an award from the University of Tennessee – Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII). This project works in partnership with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The goal of the project is to develop new radiopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer. Several other researchers from UT Health Science Center will work with Dr. Tigyi on the project, as well as collaborative researchers from ORNL and UTK.

To learn more about Dr. Tigyi’s research, please contact him at gtigyi@ uthsc.edu. To learn more about the UT-ORII, visit https://research. tennessee.edu/orii. Information about the ORNL can be found at https:// research.tennessee.edu/ornl.

DR. ABDUL MAJID RECEIVES MULTIPLE POSTDOC AWARDS

Dr. Abdul Majid, a Postdoctoral Research Associate working in the lab of Dr. Djamel Lebeche, received two awards at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Postdoc Showcase 2023.

The first of these awards was a First Place win for Poster Presentation at the event. Dr. Majid was also recognized at the annual ceremony held in January as Outstanding Postdoc of the year.

Dr. Majid earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Nutrition at CSIR – Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), University of Mysore, Mysore, India, in 2022. Dr. Majid became a part of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2022 and joined Dr. Lebeche’s lab in the same year.

To learn more about Dr. Majid and his research, please contact him at amajid1@uthsc.edu. For information about the UTHSC Postdoctoral Association (PhDA), visit https://uthsc.edu/graduate-health-sciences/phda/index.php

DIVERSITY MATTERSPHYSIOLOGY

OLUWATOSIN ASUNLOYE

RECEIVES TRAVEL AWARD FROM THE OBESITY SOCIETY

Oluwatosin Asunloye, a Molecular and Translational Physiology Graduate Student working in the lab of Dr. Ki-Suk Kim, has been chosen as a recipient of the Diversity Travel Award from The Obesity Society.

The Obesity Society stands as the world’s largest scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity and metabolism. On the significance of this award, Oluwatosin’s mentor, Dr. Kim states “Having received a few awards from TOS myself, I can attest to the invaluable opportunities they provide. These accolades have not only facilitated my access to grants but also enabled me to establish meaningful connections with scientists and clinicians from diverse backgrounds across the globe, spanning both academia and industry. I am particularly thrilled for Oluwatosin because he not only brings honor to himself but also shines a bright light on our department.”

For more information about Oluwatosin’s work, please contact him at oasunloy@uthsc.edu. To learn more about The Obesity Society please visit http://www.obesity.org.

GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM

WELCOMES NEW STUDENTS WITH PRESENTATIONS FROM LABS

The department’s annual Graduate Colloquium was held in the Mooney Library on August 23, 2023. The event featured research presentations from the department’s labs, as an introductory welcome to new graduate students, and an informative exploration of the research work of the department for all students at various stages of their work toward their PhDs. Particular emphasis was placed on helping new and recent students make informed decisions as they move toward choosing the labs for their rotations, and ultimately, their faculty mentor in coming semesters.

This year, the Molecular and Translational Physiology track of the Biomedical Engineering PhD program was welcoming three new students; Rima Patel, MaryEllen Haas, and Ayobami Obisesan.

This year’s event, organized by the Graduate Committee and Physiology Department staff, featured nine presentations from our faculty, as well as a talk by Dr. Monica Jablonski on behalf of the College of Graduate Health Sciences about the journey of a PhD student at UT Health Science Center.

For more information about the Graduate Colloquium, contact Graduate Committee Chair Dr. Zheng Fan zfan@uthsc.edu or Bernard Provencher at bproven1@uthsc.edu.

Students at the Colloquium (top), Attendees listen to research presentations (bottom)

DIVERSITY MATTERSPHYSIOLOGY

RESEARCH RETREAT

PROVIDES SHOWCASE FOR FACULTY AND RESEARCHERS TO SHARE THEIR WORK

The Department’s annual Research Retreat was held this year at Sara’s Place at the Memphis Botanic Gardens on November 1st. This event provided a valuable opportunity for our researchers to share their work with each other, and featured a full day of presentations from scientist at all levels of their research journeys at the UT Health Science Center, from Graduate Students to tenured Professors. In addition to oral talks, a selection of poster presentations also lined the walls of the hall.

For Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholars, this day also featured an opportunity for juried feedback on their presentations, with awards chosen and presented by experts from the department’s Research Committee. Awards for poster presentations went to Hector Paez (1st place), Fasilat Hassan (2nd place), and Rebecca Myers (3rd place). For Oral Presentations, Lynn Aung took first place, Tessa Garrud second, and George Hung third.

For information about the annual Research Retreat, contact Research Committee Chair Dr. Jonathan Jaggar at jjaggar@ uthsc.edu, or Bernard Provencher at bproven1@uthsc.edu.

Dr. Tess Garrud of the Jaggar lab presents.

The crowd watches intently.

Attendees ask presenters questions.

Researchers present their posters.

Department of Physiology group photo at the 2023 research retreat.

THE YEAR END REVIEWA TIME FOR CELEBRATING ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH COLLEAGUES AND FAMILY

The year’s schedule of annual events culminated with the Year End Review, held at Hardin Hall at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, on the evening of December 13. This event, which has grown in scope and attendance each year since the first in 2018, allows our Department an opportunity to come together with colleagues and families to reflect on and celebrate the achievements of our teams over the course of the year. Centered around a presentation of the Physiology Department’s accomplishments over the year by Department Chair Dr. Zhongjie Sun, this year’s event also featured awards presentations, a flute performance from Celina Xu, a visit from “Santa,” trivia games, and a DJ. Faculty, scientists, and staff were encouraged to bring significant-others and children, in order to celebrate our community and the holidays as one Physiology family.

Among those honored with awards at this years event were Dr. RK Rao for Faculty Service, Hector Paez for the Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Madison Maw and Bernard Provencher for Outstanding Staff Service, and Brandi Webb and Jaquelyn Easley for Outstanding Core Staff Service.

For information about the Physiology Department’s annual Year End Review, contact Bernard Provencher at bproven1@uthsc.edu. For full collection of photos from the event, visit https://the-pictureman.smugmug. com/BanquetDinner/UT-Physiology-Department-Endof-the-Year-Review-2023

For more information, please contact: Department of Physiology | 956 Court Ave. | Memphis, TN 38163 t 901.448.9605 | f 901.448.7126

uthsc.edu/physiology

Dr Zennadi speaks in the crowd.

“Santa” makes his entrance.

Celina Xu plays a flute solo.

Dr Sun recaps the year’s achievements.

Department staff at Year End Review.

Dr. RK Rao receives award for service.