CVRTI Vascular And Genetics Program

The CVRTI Vascular and Genetics Program brings together investigators interested in elucidating genetic influences and vascular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases.

The program consists of Lisa Lesniewski, PhD (Director), Anthony Donato, PhD, Hongchao Guo, PhD, Martin Tristani-Firouzi, MD, and Dr. Yan-Ting Shiu, PhD. Dr. Guo’s Lab seeks to advance precision medicine by increasing our understanding of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying cardiovascular development and disease. Dr. Tristani-Firouzi’s Lab utilizes the Utah population database, as well as cellular and zebra fish models to explore the mechanisms of cardiac arrythmias. Dr. Donato’s Lab explores the mechanisms of age-associated vascular dysfunction and seeks to discover novel therapeutics to reduce cardiovascular disease in aged populations. Dr. Shiu’s Laboratory integrates medicine, engineering, and bioscience to investigate the pathophysiology of hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction and the progression of cardiovascular disease in individuals with chronic kidney disease. Dr. Lesniewski’s Lab seeks to understand the mechanisms underlying both vascular and metabolic dysfunction and disease in aging and obesity.