NIH Pre- and Postdoctoral Training Program in Lipid/Lipoprotein Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases

Director: Kafait U. Malik, Ph.D., D.Sc., Professor of Pharmacology
Co-Director: Marshall B. Elam III, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine

The purpose of this program is to train young investigators in the area of cardiovascular sciences with a focus on the role of lipid/lipoproteins, growth factors, and hormones as related to the cardiovascular system in health and disease.

The primary objectives of our program are:

1. To train young investigators in State of the Art techniques and concepts required to address important questions pertaining to the etiology, physiology, pathophysiology pharmacology and treatment of various cardiovascular diseases.
   
2. To encourage the development of minority and female scientists interested in research in the area of Lipid/Lipoprotein Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease.
   
3. To promote collaborations and translational research in cardiovascular sciences, particularly in those diseases related to Lipid/Liprotein Metabolsim.
   
4. To enhance the education of students, young investigators and other heath professionals at this and other Institutions and the community in general in the Mid-South area regarding the importance of cardiovascular research and its impact on health and the economy of our State and the Country as a whole.
   

Training is offered at both the Pre- and Postdoctoral level and includes laboratory experience in cellular and molecular biology techniques in the area related to Lipid/Lipoproteins, growth factors, hormones, cellular and molecular signal transduction mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases and their treatment. Trainees develop skills related to formulation and testing of scientific hypotheses, experimental design, analysis and interpretation of data, and preparation of scientific papers and grant proposals. In addition, the trainees are exposed to other research related activities including research seminars, journal clubs, work-in-progress meetings, clinical conferences, visiting scientists and participation in national scientific meetings.

The preceptors participating in this training program (see below) are well established in their area of research and have an excellent record of publications and training young investigators. Areas of investigator expertise include vascular biology of phospholipids and phospholipases, growth factors, hormones (angiotensins, endothelins), eicosanoids and other autacoids and neurotransmitters, nitric oxide and carbon nonoxide, nitric oxide synthase and hemeoxygenase, transcriptional regulation of fatty acid metabolism, regulation of ion channels by lipids and drugs, calcium signaling including calcium sparks and waves and global calcium homeostasis in blood vessels, G-protein coupled receptor signaling T cells and other transcription factors, inflammation, myocardial structure and function, platelet function/thrombosis, vascular smooth muscle functions including contraction, migration, proliferation and hypertrophy in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, restenosis, hyprtension and diabetes.

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Eligibility

The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in USA.
Predoctoral Fellowship- Must fulfill admission requirements for graduate school at UTHSC (for details see UT website - utmem.edu)
Postdoctoral Fellowship - A recent graduate with Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M. degree with no more than one-two years postdoctoral experience.
The maximum period for fellowship including previous years of postdoctoral training is three years. Extension to fourth and fifth year could be granted only in special circumstances, which is subject to review of the application and approval by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes.
All pre- and postdoctoral fellowships are granted for one year and renewed annually based on individuals performance.

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Preceptors: NIH Training Grant in Cardiovascular Sciences

Kafait U. Malik, Ph.D., D.Sc. (Director), Department of Pharmacology

Marshall B. Elam, M.D. (Co-Director), Department of Pharmacology

George A. Cook, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology

Alejandro M. Dopico, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology

Aviv I. Hassid, Ph.D., Department of Physiology

Polly Hoffman, Ph.D., Department of Physiology

Jonathan H. Jaggar, Ph.D., Department of Physiology

Lisa K. Jennings, Ph.D., Department of Medicine

Charles W. Leffler, Ph.D., Department of Physiology

Charles M. Mansbach, II, M.D., Department of Medicine

Anjaparaavanda P. Naren, Ph.D., Department of Physiology

Rennolds Ostrom, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology

Edwards A. Park, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology

Gadiparthy Rao, Ph.D., Department of Physiology

Solomon S. Solomon, M.D., Department of Medicine

Yao Sun, Ph.D., Department of Medicine

Gabor Tigyi, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Physiology

Karl T. Weber, M.D., Department of Medicine

Contact Us

Kafait U. Malik, Ph.D., D.Sc.

Director of Training Program
Professor of Pharmacology
College of Medicine
874 Union Avenue, #115 Crowe Bldg.
Memphis, TN 38163

Phone: 901-448-6075
Fax: 901-448-7206
Email: kmalik@utmem.edu