Summer 2021
Mission: Perform state-of-the-art anatomic and physiologic research
and education to enhance human health and prepare our trainees for careers in biomedical research and healthcare professions.
Words from the Chair


As we enter into the fall semester, it is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the successes we have had so far in 2021. Congratulations! We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to. Let's finish the year strong!

All the best,
Johnathan Tune   
The New and Improved
Center for Anatomical Sciences
The BioSkills of North Texas recently opened its doors for clinical training and research activities at the UNT Health Science Center. We are a full-service training facility for clinicians, residents, CRNAs, and other health care professionals. The new facility has 12 stations with surgical lamps, C-arms, x-ray tables, and a host of other equipment used in training sessions. Participants have access to a 60-seat classroom, dressing rooms, lounge/reception area, and a kitchen/break area for catered food. We currently have vendors using this facility from all over the U.S. and abroad. 
Welcoming New Staff Members
Whitney Cromartie, MPH joined the lab of
Dr. Mark Cunningham as Research Assistant. Welcome Whitney!
Zhenglan Chen joined the lab of Dr. Rong Ma as Research Scientist I. Welcome Zhenglan!
Under Construction
The Department of Physiology is undergoing several renovation projects that will help to facilitate new goals within the department. The office suite in EAD-310 will soon include an enclosed space for trainees and private offices for our faculty. The conference room will be expanded and state-of-the-art equipment will be added to facilitate our lectures and lab and faculty meetings. Finally, a copy room has been added to provide a central location for all printing needs. We are looking forward to these convenient updates and cannot wait to share finished pictures.
Dr. Goulopoulou Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure
Dr. Stella Goulopoulou joined the department of Physiology and Anatomy at UNTHSC in August 2014 as a tenure-track assistant professor. At HSC, Dr. Goulopoulou has established an independent research program with an emphasis on the physiology of perinatal and postpartum maternal vascular function. Dr. Goulopoulou’s long-term goal is to establish an evidence-based framework that defines the role of pregnancy physiology in maternal vascular health and disease. The Goulopoulou lab has been funded by the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, and institutional seed grants. Effective September 1, Dr. Goulopoulou will be promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.
Dr. Mathis is awarded the R01 from the NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Dr. Keisa Mathis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Anatomy. Dr. Mathis was recently awarded the R01 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Her NIH-funded research focuses on the control of renal inflammation in hypertension and lupus. Specifically studies in the Mathis laboratory will test the hypothesis that the vagus nerve indirectly controls inflammation in the kidney through multiple pathways. The goal of this grant is to elucidate the normal physiology in order to determine viable therapeutic approaches to target renal inflammation in hypertension and other chronic inflammatory disorders. Dr. Mathis is an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory and Consulting Editor for AJP-Heart. She currently serves several HSC committees as well as committees within the American Physiological Society and American Heart Association. To learn more about research in the Mathis laboratory, follow this link: http://unthsc.edu/matlab.
From Zoom to 3D!


"Moving to a new university in the middle of the pandemic, I have only met most of my colleagues via Zoom meetings. Being a 'people person', this further isolation has been hard. I am excited I will be meeting folks 3D from now on." --Dr. Paula Gregory

I think we are all pleased to be moving away from Zoom. This small success is definitely worth mentioning!

Sarah Aldeeb, MS

Spencer Cushen, PhD*

Rusty Hartman, MS*

Lyndee Higgs, MS

Dennis Kulp, DO

Deborah Osikoya, PhD

Madison Parker, MS

Ryan Rusy, MS

Andrew Su, MS

Zachary Terrell, MS
*Students who defended but will participate in Spring 2022 graduation (or later)

We are all so proud of you!
Faculty
Dr. Styliani Goulopoulou
  • Awarded grant: "Preeclampsia and pre-clinical stages of maternal vascular dementia" (supplement to parent R01)
  • Published book chapter: Goulopoulou S, de Groot C, Taylor RN, Davidge ST. Vascular endothelial cell dysfunction in preeclampsia. In: Chesley's Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy, 5th Edition. Eds: Taylor, Roberts, Conrad, Staff, Davidge. Elsevier Science, September 1, 2021.
  • Published guidelines: Wenceslau CF, McCarthy CG, Earley S, England SK, Filosa JA, Goulopoulou S, Gutterman DG, Isakson BE, Kanagy NL, Martinez-Lemus LA, Sonkusare SK, Thakore P, Trask AJ, Watts SW, Webb RC. Guidelines for the measurement of vascular function and structure in isolated arteries and veins. AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 2021; 321:H77-H111.

Dr. Rong Ma
  • Awarded grant: American Heart Association Transformational Project Award

Dr. Keisa Mathis
  • Awarded grant: "Control of Renal Inflammation in Hypertension" (NIH R01)
  • Published manuscript: Morales JY, Young-Stubbs CM, Shimoura CG, Kem WR, Uteshev VV, Mathis KW. Systemic administration of alpha 7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands does not improve renal injury or behavior in mice with advanced systemic lupus erythematosus. Fronteirs in Medicine. 2021; 8:642960.
  • Published editorial: Mathis KW and Balmain B. Mentoring Q&A—Let’s Get it Started: How to Transition to a Faculty Member and Build Your Own Lab. The Physiologist Magazine. May 2021: 10-11.

Dr. Caroline Rickards
  • Published manuscript: Fan J-L, Tzeng Y-C, Rickards CA, Nogueira R, Nasr N, Brassard P. Integrative cerebral blood flow regulation in ischemic stroke. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2021 (in press).
  • Published manuscript: Bird JD, Leacy JK, Foster GE, Rickards CA, WIlson RJA, Jendzjowksy NG, Pentz BA, BYman BRM, Thrall SF, Skalk AL, Burns D, O'Halloran KD, Steinback CD, Ondrus P, Hewitt SA, Day TA. Time course and magnitude of ventilatory and renal acid-base acclimitization following rapid ascent to and residence at 3800m for nine days. J Appl Physiol. 2021 (in press).


Postdoctoral Research Associates
Dr. Sarika Chaudhari (Ma lab)
  • Awarded grant: American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship for study entitled "Store Operated Calcium Entry in Mesangial Cells Suppresses Renal Inflammation and Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy"

Dr. AJ Rosenberg (Rickards lab)
  • Published manuscript: Rosenberg AJ*, Kay VL*, Anderson GK*, Luu M-L*, Barnes HJ*, Sprick JD*, Rickards CA. The impact of acute central hypovolemia on cerebral hemodynamics: Does sex matter? J Appl Physiol 2021 (in press).


Students
Garen Anderson (Rickards lab)
  • Published manuscript: Anderson GK*, Rosenberg AJ*, Barnes HJ*, Bird J, Pentz B, Byman BRM, Jendzjowsky N, Wilson RJ, Day TD, Rickards CA. Peaks and Valleys: Oscillatory cerebral blood flow at high altitude protects cerebral tissue oxygenation. Physiol Meas. 2021 (in press).

Calvin Brooks (Mathis lab)
  • Awarded grant: NIH Neurobiology of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease T32 Fellowship (NIA T32AG020494)

Spencer Cushen (Goulopoulou lab)
  • Published manuscript: Cushen SC, Ricci CA, Bradshaw JL, Silzer T, Blessing A, Sun J, Scroggins SM, Santillan MK, Santillan DA, Phillips NR, Goulopoulou S. Concentrations and immunostimulatory potential of circulating cell-free membrane-bound and membrane-unbound mitochondrial DNA in preeclampsia. MedRxiv 2021.02.02.21250841 (preprint).

Alexa Kelly (Maddux lab)
  • Awarded grant: “Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Interactive Influence of Environment and Energetics on Human Nasal Morphology”. National Science Foundation (SBE - Biological Anthropology, #2050253). S.D. Maddux, Principal Investigator; A.P. Kelly, Co-Principal Investigator

Deborah Osikoya (Goulopoulou lab)
  • Published manuscript: Osikoya O, Cushen SC, Goulopoulou S. Cyclooxygenase-dependent mechanisms mediate in part the anti-dilatory effects of perivascular adipose tissue in uterine arteries from pregnant rats. BioRxiv. 2021.01.16426949 (preprint).

Selina Tucker (Goulopoulou lab)
  • Awarded grant: NIH Initiative to Maximize Student Diversity (IMSD) Fellowship (2021-2023) (NIGMS R25GM125587)

A complete list of articles published in 2021 by faculty in the Department of Physiology and Anatomy can be found here. For more specific detail on investigators, their labs and/or projects please visit the Physiology and Anatomy website or HSC Experts page.

Departmental Collaborative
Seed Grants Awarded
The Department of Physiology and Anatomy awarded 7 seed grants in February 2021. The awards encouraged collaboration within the department and throughout HSC. Opportunities like these foster scientific collaboration and facilitate the collection of preliminary data to apply for future private and federal grant opportunities. Congratulations to all awardees and their collaborators!
Investigators

PI: Hodge
Co-Is: Mallet, Tune

PI: Ma
Co-I: Lacko

PI: Mathis
Co-I: Uteshev

PIs: Menegaz, Gonzales,
Handler

PI: Rickards
Co-Is: T. Cunningham, Dick, Tune

PIs: Romero, Smith


PI: Mallet
Co-Is: Goulopoulou, Tune, Dick
Title

Role of lymphatic system during sepsis


Reconstituted/synthetic HDLs in diabetic kidney disease


Anti-inflammatory effects of alpha7 ligand in systemic lupus erythematosus

Perinatal craniofacial growth in osteogenesis imperfect


Animal models to study pulsatile perfusion therapy


Targeting exaggerated pressor response to hypoxic apnea with heat therapy

Establish isolated Langendorff and working rodent heart core
facility
Goulopoulou Lab
  • Stella Goulopoulou, PhD: Faculty Achievement Award, GSBS UNTHSC, May 2021; Golden Apple Award for Teaching, Graduate Student Association, GSBS, UNTHSC, May 2021; invited talk on 'Circulating mitochondrial DNA in pregnancies with preeclampsia), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, VI Workshop PPGIP e III International Workshop, Brazil, December 2020; elected to Nominating Committee of American Physiological Society Cardiovascular Physiology Section
  • Deborah Osikoya, PhD graduate: - graduated in May 2021; recipient of the Dean's Award for Excellence in Research, GSBS UNTHSC
  • Spencer Cushen, DO/PhD student: 2nd place for best oral presentation in trainee oral presentation competition, 3rd annual Women’s Cardiovascular and Brain Health Symposium, UNTHSC, April 2021
  • Jordan Gardner, MS student: accepted to the GSBS PhD program (starting in August 2021); 1st place for best poster presentation in Research Appreciation Day, April 2021; received full scholarship to attend the Placental Biology Course (virtual event), Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, UK, July 2021
  • Jessica Bradshaw, PhD: received full scholarship to attend the Placental Biology Course (virtual event), Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, UK, July, 2021; proposal to chair symposium entitled “Cerebral and Cardiovascular Dysfunction after a Complicated Pregnancy” at Experimental Biology 2022 (American Physiological Society Cardiovascular Section)

Maddux Lab
  • Alexa Kelly (PhD candidate): AAA-AAPA “Anatomy in Anthropology” Best Podium Presentation Award. 90th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, 2021. Awarded jointly with the American Association for Anatomy.
  • Lyndee Higgs Ward, MS graduate: accepted to the GSBS PhD program (starting August 2021); Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement (Specialized MS program); Outstanding Graduate Student in the Medical Sciences Research Track; UNTHSC Interprofessional Award, Research Appreciation Day, 2021; 2nd Place Poster Presentation Award - Structural Anatomy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Appreciation Day, 2021.
  • Elizabeth Thai, MS graduate, TCOM student: 1st place, TCOM first-year medical student research presentation award, Research Appreciation Day, 2021

Mathis Lab
  • Keisa Mathis, PhD: participated in Welcoming Diversity Workshop, National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI); 1000 Inspiring Black Scientists, Cell Mentor, Cell Press; invited speaker LSUHSC Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) Brown Bag Lunch, January 2021; Panel Guest, FWMD Live: The Heart of Communicating Science, TCU/UNTHSC Facebook Live (AAMC-awarded), March 2021; Invited Video, “A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words: Using Instagram to Boost Your Science”,
Mathis Lab
  • Keisa Mathis, PhD (continued): Career Central, Experimental Biology, Spring 2021; Panel Guest, AHA Supporting Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) Program, Stanford, July 2021; served on Pharmacology and Neuroscience Small Animal Imaging Search Committee, 2021; served on GSBS Admissions Committee as ad hoc member, 2021; selected as member for Nominating Committee, Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease (KCVD) of the American Heart Association; served on NIH-Center for Scientific Review Pathobiology of Kidney Disease Study Section, June 2021
  • Rusty Hartman, PhD student: presented posters at Research Appreciation Day and Experimental Biology 2021
  • Caroline Lima, PhD: selected for moderated poster session at American Heart Association Council on Hypertension
  • Dennis Kulp, TCOM graduate: Research Appreciation Day TCOM Best in Fourth Year (2021)
  • Calvin Brooks, PhD student: Joined the Mathis lab
  • Viet Dinh, MS student: Joined the Mathis lab

Menegaz Lab
  • Courtney Miller, PhD student: First Place, Structural Anatomy & Rehabilitation Sciences Poster Awards, "Craniofacial Bone Mineral Density During Growth in Mice with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)"; 1st Place Graduate Student Poster Presentation Award at the annual meeting of the American Association for Anatomy


Patterson Lab
  • Graci Finco, PhD student: 2020-2021 Outstanding Graduate Student in the Structural Anatomy & Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Discipline; Center For Healthy Aging Award (2nd place), UNTHSC Virtual Neurobiology of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Symposium

Rickards Lab
  • Caroline Rickards, PhD: Nominated for the Graduate Student Association Outstanding Graduate Faculty Member Award; Served on the NASA Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) Review Committee for Postdoctoral Fellowships; participated in the Welcoming Diversity Workshop, National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI)
  • AJ Rosenberg, PhD: Postdoctoral Oral Presentation Award, GSBS, UNTHSC Research Appreciation Day; American Physiological Society (APS), Environmental & Exercise Physiology (EEP) Section, Gatorade Sport Science Institute Postdoctoral Research Award
  • Haley Barnes, MS graduate: 2nd Place Poster Presentation, System College of Pharmacy, Research Appreciation Day
  • Garen Anderson, PhD candidate: 1st Place Poster Presentation, Women’s Cardiovascular & Brain Health Symposium

Romero Lab
  • Holden Hemingway, PhD candidate: received the Associate Fellowship for the Neurobiology of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Training Grant
  • Rauchelle Richey, PhD student: Joined the Romero lab
Summer Programs
The Department of Physiology and Anatomy hosted 5 summer interns in the Summer Opportunities in Anatomy Research (SOAR) program in the summer of 2021. This program is funded by the American Association for Anatomy. Meet the interns below!
This year, the Department of Physiology and Anatomy also had the pleasure of hosting undergraduate students in UNTHSC's Summer Multicultural Advanced Research Training (SMART) Program. Bryanna Bell (Mallet lab), Karlie Johnson (Mathis lab), Keandre Rush (T. Cunningham lab) and Gabriel Thomas (Romero lab) successfully presented their summer research on July 14, 2021.
Dr. Andras Lacko retired from his role as Professor in the Department of Physiology and Anatomy in July 2021. Dr. Lacko's reviewed his research activities at HSC from 1975-2021 in a lecture with a reception that followed. To read more about Dr. Lacko's legacy, click here.

Black in Physiology's Inaugural Conference for Black Physiologists took place in April 2021. This virtual conference provided a space for black physiologists and their supporters to network, share science, discuss issues in professional development and explore career options. Dr. Keisa Mathis co-chaired the conference planning committee. To learn more about Black in Physiology, click here.

Dr. Stella Goulopoulou hosted a podcast for the American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology with authors Dr. Laura Coats and Dr. Barbara Alexander and leading expert Dr. Chris Banek about the work by Coats et al. on soluble guanylate cyclase stimulation in late pregnancy and its effects on offspring cardiovascular function. To listen to the podcast, click here.

The American Heart Association has new online training called 'The Heart of Communicating Science' that could be beneficial to researchers that struggle with sharing their research with lay audiences. Check out this promotional video; you may see someone you know!
Join a Journal Club!
Have you ever wanted to review papers in a group setting with other scientists with similar research interests?! Well we have just the thing for you! There are currently 3 journal clubs within the Department of Physiology and Anatomy. If you are interested in joining one of these, please reach out to Dr. Goulopoulou, Drs. Ma and Mathis, or Dr. Rickards. Also, contact Dr. Rickards if you are interested in joining the department's Writing Accountability Group (WAG).
Outreach efforts have slowed down a little due to the current state of K-12 campuses, but we are considering innovative ways to share physiology and anatomy with the next generation of scientists. This spring, Dr. Gregory Dick joined the steering committee for the Aledo High Club for Science and Health Professions. Dr. Keisa Mathis would like to continue 'Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Tours' hopefully in person, but if not, virtually. If you are interested in these outreach opportunities within the Department of Physiology and Anatomy, or if you know of other events and opportunities, please make sure to contact the Communications Committee.
Dr. Gef Farmer sharing physiology and anatomy concepts with students at a career fair in
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD in 2019.
Welcome Baby Caleb!
Dr. Jessica Bradshaw (Goulopoulou lab) had a handsome baby boy, Caleb Ryan Battles, on December 29, 2020. Welcome to PHAN, Caleb! Congratulations, Jessica!
Now we are ready for fall!

Department of Physiology & Anatomy | UNT Health Science Center | 817-735-2000 | 817-735-5084
| dept.physio@unthsc.edu |



STAY CONNECTED
2021 P&A Communications Committee:
Emma Handler
Alexa Kelly
Keisa Mathis
Dianna Nguyen
Megan Raetz