Postgraduate Education: Post-doctoral training, Department of Biochemistry and the Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama; NIH National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Biochemistry and the Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama

Subjects taught: Physiology

Course Director of: Respiratory course

Research Interests or Topics: My long term research goal is to expand our understanding of the pulmonary endothelium, specifically by investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in the remodeling of pulmonary vessels characteristic of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a disease marked by the disruption of vascular structural integrity leading to arterial remodeling, increased resistance, and ultimately death. Thus, there is a critical need to better understand the mechanisms underlying cellular alterations that lead to the eventual occlusion of vessels. We are investigating novel cell signaling pathways that link changes in BMPR2 signaling with transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) that may induce the reprogramming of pulmonary artery endothelial cells to a constrictive, occlusive smooth muscle phenotype. I also hope to provide research mentorship to students, which is a passion of mine. I recently was awarded an American Heart Association Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA), which will allow to me to involve a number of students in research. I feel that with the proper training, students can make significant contributions to this project as well as expand their understanding of what evidenced-based medicine means.

National and/or International Memberships:

American Physiological Society

American Heart Association

National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) National Faculty

International Association of Medical Science Educators

American Physiological Society Communications Committee

Publications:

Hamilton CL, Kadeba PI, Vasauskas AA, Solodushko V, McClinton AK, Alexeyev M, Scammell JG, Cioffi DL. Protective role of FKBP51 in calcium entry-induced endothelial barrier disruption. Pulmonary Circulation. 2018

Hamilton CL, Abney KA, Vasauskas AA, Alexeyev M, Li N, Honkanen RE, Scammell JG, Cioffi DL. Serine/threonine phosphatase 5 (PP5C/PPP5C) regulates the ISOC channel through a PP5C-FKBP51 axis. Pulmonary Circulation. 2017

Hernandez MJ, Giannini J, Alston S, Vasauskas AA. Use of live-stream and pre-recorded simulation in the individual readiness assessment test during TBL, a Novel Approach. Medical Science Educator. 2016.

Vasauskas AA. The integration of oneself into a medical school curriculum. Medical Science Educator. December 2015.

Vasauskas AA, Chen H, Wu S, Cioffi DL. The serine-threonine calcium/calmodulin-activated phosphatase calcineurin is involved in regulation of store-operated calcium entry. Pulmonary Circulation. 4:16-27, 2014.

Parra-Bonilla, G, Alvarez D, Alexeyev A, Vasauskas A, and Stevens, T. Lactate Dehydrogenase A Expression is Necessary to Sustain Rapid Angiogenesis of Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelium. PLoS one. 8:e75984, 2013.

Kadeba PI, Vasauskas AA, Chen H, Wu S, Scammell JG, Cioffi DL. 2013. Regulation of store-operated calcium entry by FK-506-binding immunophilins. Cell Calcium. 53: 275-85, 2013.

Vasauskas AA, Hubler TR, Boston L, Scammell JG. Tissue-specific expression of squirrel monkey chorionic gonadotropin. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 170:514-21, 2010.

Vasauskas AA, Hubler TR, Mahanic C, Gibson S, Kahn AG, Scammell JG. Squirrel monkey pituitary chorionic gonadotropin is coregulated and costored with secretogranin II. General and Comparative Endocrinology 170: 509-13, 2010

Vasauskas A, Schuler AM, Olatinwo M, Scammell JG. Expression of pituitary chorionic gonadotropin in New World primates. In “Clinical Infertility and In Vitro Fertilization.”ed. Rizk, B., Sallam H.N. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2012.

Hossein Ghanbari, Kasra Ghanbari, Iraj Beheshti, Michael Munzar, Audrey Vasauskas, and Paul Averback. Biochemical Assay for AD7C-NTP in Urine as an Alzheimer’s Disease Marker. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, Vol. 12:285-288, 1998.

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