Seated from Left to Right: Shan Chen, Persoulla Nicolaou, Kobra Haghighi, Litsa Kranias, Stela Florea and Sarah Figueira
Standing from Left to Right: Xiaohong Wang, Andrea Collins, Guoli Chen, Jiang Qian, Chi Keung Lam, Dustin Robinson, Tracy Pritchard, Guochang Fan, Emily Wright, Wen Zhao and Zhiguo Zhang
Not pictured: Cristina Romeo, Guoxiang (Simon) Chu and Wenfang Cai

GRADUATE STUDENTS 

Persoulla Nicolaou current Ph.D. Candidate
Education: 2003: B.S., University of California, Santa Barbara, Pharmacology
Awards: 2006-2007: AHA Pre-doctoral Fellowship
2006: Proteomics Support Award, Center of Environmental Genetics
2003: Highest honors, UC Santa Barbara
2000-2003: Fulbright Scholarship
Email: nicolapa@uc.edu

Jiang Qian current Ph.D. Candidate
Education: 1998: M.S., Suzhou University of Medical Sciences, Cardiology
1992: M.D., Suzhou Medical College, Clinical Medicine
Awards: 2004: 3rd Place, Graduate Student Research Forum, UC Medical School
1995-2001: Clinical Experience, 1st Hospital of Soochow Medical School, Suzou, China
1995-1998: Excellent graduate school scholarship
1990-1995: Excellent medical school scholarship
Email: qianja@uc.edu

Chi Keung Lam current Ph.D. Candidate
Education: 2003-2007: B.S., Purdue University, Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Award: 2005-2007: Eli Lily Scholarship for School of Pharmacy
2007: Highest distinction, Purdue University
Email: lamcg@uc.edu

Peidong Han current Ph.D. Candidate; visiting student from Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking
University, China
Education: 2004-present, Ph.D. Candidate for Biophysics
2000-2004, B.S., Nankai University, China, Biological Science
Email: hanpd@pku.edu.cn

Zhiguo Zhang current Ph.D. Candidate, visiting student from Peking University, China
Education: 2004-present: Ph.D. Candidate, Peking University, China, Physiology
and Pathophysiology
1997-2002: B.M., Beijing Medical University, China, Clinical Medicine
Awards: 2001: Best Students Award of Beijing Medical University
Email: ZhiguoZhangbmu@163.com

POST-DOCS

Dr. Guoli Chen (2004-present)
Education: 2000-2004: Ph.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, Physiology
1997-2000: M.S., Beijing University Health Science Center, Beijing, China, Physiology
1992-1997: M.D., Jining Medical College, Jining, China, Clinical Medicine
Awards: 2000-2001: University Fellowship of Indiana University
2001-2002: William F. Moenhkaus Graduate Fellowship For Excellent
Academic Performance
2003-2005: AHA Predoctoral Fellowship
Email: chengi@uc.edu

Dr. Stela Florea (2007-present)
Education: 2001- 2007: Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago, Physiology
1996-1997: M.Sc., University of Bucharest, Romania, Faculty of Biology, Animal Physiology and Biophysics
1990-1996: B.Sc., University of Bucharest, Romania, Faculty of Biology, Department of Biochemistry
Awards: 2005-2006: American Heart Association Midwest Affiliation, predoctoral fellowship
Email: floreasa@uc.edu

Dr. Tracy Pritchard (2008-present)
Education: 2002-2007: Ph.D., University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology (advisor: Dr. Richard J. Paul)
1998-2002: B.S., Ohio Northern University, Department of Biology
Awards: 2007: 1st place poster competition- Systems Biology and Physiology Retreat, Genome Research Institute, University of Cincinnati
2002-2005: University Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, University of Cincinnati
2002-2004: Functional Genomics Fellowship, University of Cincinnati
Email: pritchty@uc.edu

Dr. Wenfeng Cai (2008-present)
Education: 2005-2008: Ph.D., Peking Union Medical College, China, Molecular Immune Pharmacology
2000-2003: M.S., Kunming Medical College, China, Pharmacology
1996-2000: B.S., Kunming Medical College, China, Pharmacy
Email: wfcai99@yahoo.com.cn

RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Dr. Guo Xiang Chu (2008-present)
Education: 2009-2012: Cardiology Fellowship Program, University of Vermont College of Medicine
2005-2008: Internal Medicine Residency Program, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine
1999-2005: Post-doctoral fellowship, University of Cincinnati, Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics
1989-1992: Ph.D., Hunan Medical University, China
1981-1986: M.D., Suzhou Medical College, China
Email: chugg@uc.edu

Dr. Guo-Chang Fan (2008-present)
Education: 1995-1998: Ph.D., Zhejiang University, China, Molecular Cell Biology
1993-1995: M.S., Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Microbiology
Awards: 2008: Outstanding Early-Career Investigator Award at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Conference – Heart Failure: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets, Keystone, Colorado
2005: New Investigator Travel Award at the 2nd Annual Symposium of the American Heart Association Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences—Targeting Heart Failure: New Science, New Tools, New Strategies. Keystone, Colorado
2003: Travel grant to the 7th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America. Las Vegas, Nevada
Grant: April 2007-March 2012: NIH RO1 grant HL087861 ($1,250,000)
Current Role: PI.
Email: fangg@uc.edu
Webpage: http://www.med.uc.edu/pharmacology/Fan_page.htm

RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Dr. Kobra Haghighi (1993-present)
Education: 1986-1991, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Genetics/Molecular Biology

ASSISTANT TO DR. KRANIAS

Sarah Figueira (2005-present)
Education: 2008: M.B.A., University of Phoenix
2005: B.S., University of Cincinnati, Natural Science with minor in Chemistry
Email: sarah.figueira@uc.edu

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Dr. Wen Zhao (1999-present)
Education: 1996-1999: Ph.D., Beijing Medical University, Cardiovascular Physiology
1993-1996: M.S., Henan Medical University, Physiology
1985-1990: B.S., Henan Medical University, Medicine
Awards: 2003: Jay N. Cohn New Investigator Basic Science Award in the 7th Annual Scientific
Meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America, Las Vegas, Nevada
2002: Basic Trainee Abstract Award at the 75th Annual Conference of American Heart Association, Chicago, Illinois
2001: Best Poster Award at the International Society for Heart Research (ISHR), XVII World Congress, Winnipeg, Canada
Email: zhaowa@ucmail.uc.edu

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Andrea Collins (2008-present)
Education: 2008: B.S., Miami University, Zoology; minor in History
Awards: 2007-2008: National Scholars Honor Society
2006-2008: Dean’s List (High Honors)
Email: andrea.collins@uc.edu

Cristina Romeo (2008-present)
Education: 2008: B.A., Xavier University, major in Spanish; minors in Chemistry
and Natural Sciences
Awards: 2008: High honors, Xavier University
2004-2008: Academic scholarships awarded by merit
Email: romeoca@uc.edu

Dustin Robinson (2008-present)
Education: 1996: M.S., San Diego State University, Exercise Physiology
1994: B.S., San Diego State University, Sports Medicine
Email: robinsdu@email.uc.edu

ALUMNI

Seated from Left to Right: Qui-jiang Song, Kobra Haghighi, Litsa Kranias, Helen Kiriazis, Wen Zhou
Standing from Left to Right: Andrew Carr, Yoji Sato, Albrecht Schmidt, Karen Young, Mike Gerst, Konrad Frank, Beata Bearman, Raj Dash, summer student, Gou-Xiang Chu

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS (ALUMNI)

Dr. Alex Moulis (2006-2007)
Dr. Xiaoyang Zhou (2005-2007)
Dr. Patricia Rodriguez (2003-2007)
Dr. Jason R. Waggoner (2004-2007)
Dr. Gyorgyi Jakab (1985-1989)
Dr. Ellen F. Young (1985-1987) *NIH Training Grant Fellow
Dr. Stephen Rapundalo (1985-1987) *NIH Training Grant Fellow
Dr. Ramesh Gupta (1985-1989) *AHA Fellow, 1987-1988
Dr. Istvan Edes, (1987-1989)
Dr. Grazyna Szymanska (1988-1992) *AHA Fellow, 1991-1992
Dr. Hae Won Kim (1989-1990)
Dr. Chong Zhang (1989-1991)
Dr. Laszlo Talosi (1989-1991)
Dr. Wu-sheng Luo (1990-1997)
Dr. Sathivel Ponniah (1991-1995) *AHA Fellow, 1992-1993
Dr. Eva Kiss (1992-1995) *NIH Fogarty Fellow 1993-1995
Dr. Kim Koss (1992-1996) *AHA Fellow, 1993-1994 *NRSA Fellow, 1994-1996
Dr. Peter Karczewski (Sept.-Dec. 1994)
Dr. Carola Tilgmann (1994-1995)
Dr. Judy M. Harrer (1994-1995)
Dr. Roy Sutliff (Co-Sponsor w/Dr. R. Paul: 1995-1999) *NRSA Fellow, 1997-99
Dr. Yoji Sato (1995-1998)
Dr. Jay Slack (1996-1997)
Dr. Lawrence Messnard (1996-1998)
Dr. Vivek Kadambi (1996-1999) *AHA Fellow, 1997-1998
Dr. Helen Kiriazis (1997-2000) *GLAXO Fellow, 1997-1998
Dr. William Lester (1997-1999) *AHA Fellow, 1998-1999
Dr. Konrad Frank (1998-2001) *DF Fellow, 1999-2001
Dr. Albrecht Schmidt (1998-2000)
Dr. Angie Brittsan (2000)
Dr. Beate Beyermann (2000-2001)
Dr. Andrew Carr (2001)
Dr. Tonya Nichols (2001-2002)
Dr. Yoshiki Uehara (2001-2002)
Dr. Guo-Xiang Chu (1993-1999; Research Assistant Professor, 1999-2005)

Ph.D. STUDENTS (ALUMNI)

Louise M. Bilezikjian, Ph.D., 1981. Project: Regulation of Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Phosphorylation and Function by Calmodulin.

Bruce A. Davis, Ph.D., 1984. Project: Regulation of Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Function by Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Phosphorylation.

Hae Won Kim, Ph.D., 1989. Project: Mechanism of Regulation of the Calcium Pump in Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum by Protein Kinases and Protein Phosphatases.

Judy Harrer, Ph.D., 1994. Project: Regulatory Effects of Phospholamban on Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Function: Molecular, Biochemical and Biophysical Analysis

Vivek Kadambi, Ph.D., 1995. Project: Transgenic Approaches to Uncover the Role of Phospholamban in Contractility and the Regulation of its Expression in Heart

Jay Slack, Ph.D., 1996. Project: Delineation of a Role for Phospholamban in Skeletal Muscle

Rajesh Dash, M.D./Ph.D., 2000. Project: A Study of the Interactions Between Phospholamban, b-Adrenergic Drive, and Gender in the Heart †Fellow of the American Federation of Aging Research (2000)

Jing Zhai, Ph.D., 2000. Project: Assessing the Structural and Functional Relationship of Phospholamban via Generating Transgenic Models Expressing a Pentameric Phospholamban Asn27 to a Ala Mutant

Angie Brittsan, Ph.D., 2000. Project: Transgenic Approaches to Elucidate the Role of Phospholamban in Basal Contractility and During b-Adrenergic Stimulation of the Heart

Andrew Carr, Ph.D., 2001. Project: The Role and Regulation of the Type-1 Phosphatase in Smooth and Cardiac Muscle Contractility: Evidence from Genetically-Altered Mice.

Qiu-Jing Song, Ph.D. 2005. Project: Role of phospholamban on contractile function and remodeling in cardiac muscle and slow-twitch skeletal muscle.

Kimberly Gregory, Ph.D. 2005. Project: Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Cycling and Cardiac Disease.

Anand Pathak, Ph.D. 2005. Project: The role of the protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor-1 in regulation of murine cardiac physiology and progression of cardiomyopathy.

Qunying Yuan, Ph.D. 2007. Project: The role of Junctin in regulation of murine cardiac physiology.

Bryan Mitton, Ph.D. 2007. Project: The role of I-1 phosphorylation in regulation of cardiac physiology.

FACULTY TRAINEES (ALUMNI)

Dr. Gyorgyi Jakab, Visiting Associate Professor from the University of Szeged, Hungary (1985-1987)

Dr. Istvan Edes, Visiting Associate Professor from the University of Szeged, Hungary (1987-1989)

Dr. Eva Kiss, Visiting Cardiology Fellow from the University of Szeged, Hungary (1993-1995)

Dr. Ani Banerjee, Visiting Associate Professor from Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati (1995-1998)

Dr. Yoji Sato, Visiting Faculty from Molecular Sciences, Japan (1998-2000)

Dr. Guojie Song, Visiting Faculty Cardiovascular Medicine, (April -July 2004 & April - July 2005)