Cardiology/Cardiovascular Biology
Marisa K. Ames DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
VMTH
Not taking students in 2025
Dr. Marisa Ames is an associate professor of Cardiology in the VMTH. Her primary research interest involves characterizing the ‘behavior’ of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) throughout the stages of common acquired heart diseases: myxomatous mitral valve disease and dilated cardiomyopathy. Future projects include assessment of the local (tissue) RAAS in dogs by localizing (via immunohistochemistry) and quantifying the activity of key RAAS enzymes in the myocardium of dogs. An improved understanding of RAAS will inform current and future drug therapy for common cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Ames hopes to mentor students that would like to participate in clinical research and have a special interest in cardiovascular physiology.
Dr. Ames can be reached via email: mkames@ucdavis.edu
Eliza Bliss-Moreau, PhD
Department of Psychology, College of Letters and Sciences
California National Primate Research Center
(See also: Behavior/Animal Welfare, Neurology/Neurobiology, Immunology/Infectious Disease)
Dr. Bliss-Moreau’s multi-method, multi-level, multi-disciplinary, multi-species research program is focused on understanding the biological mechanisms that generate healthy and unhealthy emotions and social behavior, with the goal of developing new effective treatments and interventions for emotion-related psychopathology and understanding how and why emotions evolved. Her research program adopts a lifespan approach, primarily studying nonhuman primates from infancy through old age – what the Bliss-Moreau Lab refers to as womb-to-tomb affective science. The lab works at levels from cellular neurobiology to the study of social systems (and everything in between). Additionally, the Bliss-Moreau Lab pursues topics related to variation in neural development, both during early development (following viral infection with Zika virus) and in the diseases of old age (namely Alzheimer’s disease).
Dr. Bliss-Moreau can be reached via email at eblissmoreau@ucdavis.edu or visit the lab website for more information.
Julie Bossuyt, DVM, PhD
Chair MCIP Graduate Group
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine
(See also: Biochemistry & Cellular Biology)
The lab studies the molecular mechanisms that drive activation and function of the related kinases, protein kinase D (PKD) and calmodulin dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) in healthy and failing hearts. We focus on understanding the local regulatory mechanisms that control the myriad cellular outcomes for these multifunctional kinases. Hereto we apply cutting-edge high resolution fluorescence imaging techniques (such as FRET, TIRF, FRAP and confocal) and novel biosensors to obtain unique insight into the spatiotemporal dynamics of the local Ca-CaM, CaMKII and PKD signals.
Potential summer research projects:
- PKD regulation of actin dynamics in cardiac myocytes
- Role of PKD in cardiac stress during pregnancy
Contact : jbossuyt@ucdavis.edu
Chao-Yin Chen, PhD
Cardiovascular regulation (see also: Neurology/Neuroscience)
Dept. of Pharmacology
Blood pressure and heart rate are regulated by CNS on a moment-to-moment basis. Depending on the interaction between the genetic and environmental factors, the CNS regulatory output can result in either a normal or a pathological outcome. My current research focuses on cigarette smoke (both conventional and e-cigarette)- induced changes in central regulation of cardiovascular function.
Potential summer research projects:
1. Secondhand smoke- and vaping-induced cardiovascular consequences and their interaction with high fat diet.
2. Sex difference in secondhand smoke- and vaping-induced cardiovascular consequences.
Potential techniques involved: BP/ECG recordings using telemetry, heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity analysis, whole-cell patch clamp in brain slices.
Website: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/providerbio/pharmacology/faculty/701
Please email Dr. Chen for more information at: cych@ucdavis.edu.
Aldrin Gomes, PhD
Striated muscle disease
Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology
The laboratory investigates cellular and molecular biochemistry and utilizes proteomic approaches to understanding cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases. The two main areas of interest are troponin related cardiomyopathies and proteasome related dysfunction in muscle diseases. The proteasome is investigated at the molecular and cellular level using PCR arrays, biochemical techniques and proteomics. Troponin related cardiomyopathies are investigated in rodent models of hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathies using several biochemical, biophysical and proteomic techniques. Possible summer research projects for veterinary students include 1) mechanisms underlying hyperglycemia-induced changes in cardiac proteasome and its role in diabetic cardiomyopathy, and 2) investigating the role of troponin mutations in a mouse model of restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Please visit Dr. Gomes' website for more information.
Jessica Morgan, DVM, PhD, DACVSMR
VM: Medicine & Epidemiology, VMTH Equine Field Service
(See also: Diagnostic Imaging, Internal Medicine)
Dr. Morgan is an equine practitioner board-certified in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in the Department of Medicine & Epidemiology with a 50% clinical appointment in the VMTH. Her laboratory focuses on the study of performance limitations in the horse with an emphasis in cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disease. Recent projects include evaluation of heart rate variability in horses with gastric ulcers and assessment of the effects of sedation on gait evaluation.
Several projects are available involving electrocardiography or echocardiography in the horse or evaluation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone signaling in the horse. Students will gain experience with live animal studies and data analysis.
For more information and to discuss potential projects please contact Dr. Morgan at jmmorgan@ucdavis.edu.
Kent E. Pinkerton, Ph.D.
Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology
(see also: immunology, pathology/virology, pharmacology/toxicology, and pulmonary medicine)
1) To take an innovative approach in addressing air quality issues in dairy and cattle operations by the examination of direct health effects on the cardiopulmonary systems of mice and rats exposed to ambient particles using a concentrator system at the Tulare Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center.
2) To examine the effects of environmental factors (gases and particles in the air) on peri-natal development to affect lung anatomy and pulmonary function in the rat. From conception to adulthood in the rats takes approximately 6 weeks, an easy fit for one summer!
3) To measure heart rate variability as an indicator of change in autonomic control in the mouse exposed to Davis, CA summer particulates.
4) To take a comparative biology approach to elucidate mechanistic environmental pathways leading to increased susceptibility (fetal onset of adult disease).
5) To examine the role of secondhand smoke on increased susceptibility to infection (influenza).
6) To explore the role of metabolomics as an early indicator of disease (asthma, altered immune function, increased susceptibility to infection).
Dr. Pinkerton can be reached via email at kepinkerton@ucdavis.edu.
Crystal M. Ripplinger, Ph.D.
Cardiology, Arrhythmia, Imaging
MED: Pharmacology
Dr. Ripplinger has a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and advanced training in imaging and physiology. The focus of her research is on using high-speed and molecular imaging techniques to study basic mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias. Her lab develops and studies pathologic arrhythmias in rodent and rabbit models of cardiovascular disease including healed myocardial infarction, acute ischemia, and heart failure. In vivo and ex vivo imaging on hearts of these animals is then performed to elucidate arrhythmia triggers and discover new anti-arrhythmic strategies.
STAR student projects center on animal models of cardiovascular disease (rodent, rabbit) and mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias. Summer STAR students are typically involved with in vivo ECG and echocardiogram recordings, necropsy, tissue harvesting, histology, immunochemistry, and basic molecular biology techniques.
Please email Dr. Ripplinger for more information at: cripplinger@ucdavis.edu or call (530) 752-1569.
Daisuke Sato, PhD
SOM: Pharmacology
Research topics: Computational biology, mathematical modeling, mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias, excitation-contraction coupling, drug development
Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death in the United States. Understanding the mechanisms of ventricular fibrillation is crucial to develop antiarrhythmic drugs and effective therapeutic strategies. The goal of my lab’s research is to understand how molecular level properties are linked to organ level phenomena using multiscale computational modeling of the heart.
Desired qualifications: Experience in Matlab and C/C++ programming (ECS30 or equivalent). Knowledge and training for mathematical analysis, biological modeling, and simulations. Linear Algebra and Differential Equations.
My lab website is https://basicscience.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/sato_lab/.
Please email Dr. Sato for more information at: dsato@ucdavis.edu
Nissi Varki, M.D.*
Comparative pathology, mouse models of human disease
Affiliated with UC Veterinary Medical Center – San Diego
Director of Histopathology Resources, Cancer and Mouse Histopathology
Professor of Pathology
(See also: Immunology/Infectious Diseases, Oncology, Pathology/Virology)
Dr. Nissi Varki's research interests include comparative histopathology analysis of genetically altered mice, and models of human diseases including cancer, inflammatory disorders and microbial infections. She is investigating the role of glycosylated molecules in tumor progression and metastasis, including evidence for a human-specific mechanism for diet and antibody-mediated inflammation in human carcinogenesis. Another area of recent exploration is the tissue and species-specific expression of sialic-acid binding lectin receptors known as Siglecs, which play an important role in regulating host innate immune responses and inflammation. Dr. Varki also has a longstanding interest in immunological mechanisms operating at the gastrointestinal mucosal epithelium and their role in chronic colitis and colon cancer development. Dr. Varki serves as Director of the Histopathology Core laboratories Mouse Phenotyping Services at UC San Diego and teaches in the histology and pathology laboratory sessions for medical students, mentors numerous undergraduate students and high school students and serves on the Recruitment and Admissions Committee for the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
Link to Dr. Varki’s current publications
Link to Dr. Varki’s website
*Please contact Peter Ernst pernst@ucsd.edu or Christina Sigurdson csigurdson@ucsd.edu first for more information