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I am interested in cardiovascular and smooth muscle physiology.  Specifically, I am interested in the effects of high amounts fatty acid on apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (also known as lipotoxicity).  In graduate school, I determined that palmitate-induced lipotoxicity occurs in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and that this liptoxicity was reduced by the addition of the oleate.  I also looked at some of the mechanisms involved in this lipotoxicity, such as the creation of reactive oxygen species.  In addition, I studied the effects of lipid transport (via CD36 and caveolae) on lipotoxicity in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

My future research plans at Augustana College are to look at the effects of resveratrol, a polyphenol from red wine, on this lipotoxicity in hog carotid vascular smooth muscle cells.