August 3, 2017
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Meetings
 
Vascular Biology
Monterey, CA  
October 15-19, 2017
Abstract deadline: Aug 1 


20th IVBM
Helsinki, Finland
June 3-7, 2018 

 
Vasculata 2018
St. Louis, MO

July 23 - 26, 2018  
Corporate Partners
Corporate Members
Affiliated Journals
Cardiovascular Medicine
VB 2017 Supporters



VB 2017 Exhibitors
Meet Our New President-Elect
Michelle Bendeck is a Professor and the Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. Since 2015 she has been a member of the Translational Biology and Engineering Program (TBEP) at the Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research. She obtained her B.Sc (Hons) in Physiology at the University of Western Ontario, and her Ph.D. in Cellular and Experimental Pathology at the University of Toronto. She completed postdoctoral research at the University of Washington in the department of Pathology.
 
Dr. Bendeck is recognized for her work on matrix biology in cardiovascular disease. She studies the roles of collagens, the novel discoidin-domain receptors (DDRs), cadherins and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in mediating cellular responses during atherosclerosis and heart failure. In addition, she is developing biomaterials for drug delivery and designing microfluidic systems to perform high-throughput assays to test drugs to antagonize these molecular players.
    
Dr. Bendeck was the recipient of a Career Investigator Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and she holds research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the National Institutes of Health (USA), the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
Another Successful Vasculata!

We obviously had some camera shy attendees; this year's Vasculata was attended by 117 students!  More pictures are available at www.navbo.org/events/vasculata-2017

With the help of a grant from the NHLBI, nineteen individuals received funding to attend - eleven scholarships and eight travel awards.  In addition, there were 54 posters presented on Monday afternoon; workshops were held on Tuesday and Wednesday and a group dinner was held on Wednesday evening with a very special guest speaker, Mary Woolley from Research!America.  Ms. Woolley's presentation was entitled, "Your Role in Changing Hearts and Minds for Science."  See below for more information about her presentation and click here to review her  slides.

Congratulations and much appreciation to the organizers: Kishore Wary, Asrar Malik and Jan Kitajewski at the University of Illinois, Chicago; co-organizers: Dolly Mehta and Jalees Rehman, also at UIC and Tsutomu Kume and William Muller at Northwestern University.  A special thanks to the Department of Pharmacology staff, especially Aileen Baker and Sarah Wotaszak.   

Thanks to our sponsors:  the Department of Pharmacology, UIC, the UIC College of Medicine, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science at UIC and our corporate sponsors:  Cell Biologics and VisualSonics

Hope to see you next year at Vasculata 2018 in St. Louis, MO!!! 
Vasculata 2017 participants hear from Mary Wooley of Research!America
NAVBO has had a longstanding interest in advocacy for biomedical research, in part via networking opportunities with other organizations. As part of VASCULATA 2017, we were delighted that Research!America's founding President and current CEO Mary Woolley provided a presentation entitled, "Your Role in Changing Hearts and Minds for Science." As background, Research!America is the nation's largest, non-profit grassroots public education and advocacy organization committed to biomedical and health research as a national priority. They were key in lobbying successfully for the doubling of the NIH budget that occurred from 1999-2003.
  
Vasculata participants were delighted to hear an inspiring and informative presentation from Mary that provided a historical perspective of biomedical research advocacy in the United States and presented research methodologies to understand the perceptions of such research among the population. She highlighted the many past successes that have kept the nation's effort in research strong and new trends that are serving to invigorate scientists and citizens to advocate for research, such as the March for Science. Some fascinating points were raised. Chief among them is the fact that polling indicates that despite the high levels of public confidence, scientists are relatively invisible in our society. How do we improve on this situation and advocate for appropriate funding? Mary described the need to get involved, advocate as a private citizen and constituent, and advocate with your institution. An emphasis was put on the need for scientists to reach out to representatives, Senators, and local government officials. She ended by stating that "the most important words a researcher can say and convey are 'I work for you.'" Mary's enthusiasm and commitment came across loud and clear, and participants at Vasculata were informed, engaged, and grateful for her contribution.

To all NAVBO members, know that Research!America is a key partner in our efforts and we should connect with them, please do that at:
Contributed by Jan Kitajewski
Submit Your Abstract - Deadline Extended!
Vascular Biology 2017
Abstract deadline - now August 8
Submit an Abstract - Click Here
(includes extensions for the Springer and Travel Awards)

Early bird discount - August 15
Register Now!

More meeting details at:
http://www.navbo.org/vb2017

Spotlight on Trainees
Free Access to Scientific Literature Collections for Post-docs 
Elsevier, producer of thousands of publications for professional science and healthcare communities worldwide, is offering unlimited complimentary access to all of its journals and books on ScienceDirect, for up to one year for scholars who recently received their PhDs and currently do not hold a research position. The " Postdoc Free Access Passport" is available by application and aims to help scientists stay current in their fields when between positions, during funding droughts, or while working afield from their true expertise. Continued access to the scientific literature can be a lifeline for staying competitive and connected to the research community. 
Member News
Welcome to our Newest Members:
Caleb Abshire, Tulane University
Lissenya Argueta, Weill Cornell Medicine
Nabila Bahrami, University of Calgary
Danielle Berlin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Saptarshi Biswas, SUNY Upstate Medical University
Boksik Cha, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Jingying Chen, Southwest University
Kathryn Citrin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Michelle Dubinsky, University of Toronto
Xin Geng, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Jasper Greysson-Wong, University of Calgary
Ali Jubran, Thomas Jefferson University
Andrew Kim, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Myung Hee Kim, Yonsei University
Christopher Koch, Cleveland Clinic
Steffen Künzel, University of Bonn
Henry Le, Baylor College of Medicine
Sarah Lindsey, Tulane University
Timothy Mead, Cleveland Clinic
Shayna Medley, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Clint Miller, University of Virginia
Silvia Moleri, Universita' degli Studi di Milano
Jessica Motherwell, Tulane University
Julie Perlin, Boston Children's Hospital
Laura Pillay, NIH
Anusha Rajaraman, Stanford University
Samuel Rayner, University of Washington
Dana Ruter, UNC Chapel Hill
Jocelynda Salvador, University of Missouri
Dwitiya Sawant, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Sanjid Shahriar, Columbia University
Kuldeep Singh, Boston University
Agata Szade, Stanford University
Rachana Trivedi, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
Charlene Watterston, University of Calgary
If you have news to share with your colleagues, send it to membership@navbo.org.
 Recent Publications by NAVBO Members

Annexin A2 supports pulmonary microvascular integrity by linking vascular endothelial cadherin and protein tyrosine phosphatases
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Relative or absolute hypoxia activates signaling pathways that alter gene expression and stabilize the pulmonary microvasculature. Alveolar hypoxia occurs in disorders ranging from altitude sickness to airway obstruction, apnea, and atelectasis.  Read more

 

Telomerase mRNA Reverses Senescence in Progeria Cells
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
This study suggests that the delivery of the telomerase messenger RNA is able to rejuvenate fibroblast cells. It presumably might do the same for the endothelial cells and blood vessels of youngsters with HGPS.  Read more

Industry News
Brain Endothelial Cell Specialization at the Transcriptional Level  
Investigators in Sweden and Germany have reported in Science Signaling their results of transcriptional profiling of mouse embryonic brain endothelial cells, seeking to identify elements involved in blood-brain barrier (BBB) development and to distinguish this specialized tissue from peripheral vascular beds. Using translating ribosome affinity purification and single-cell RNA sequencing, Hupe et al. note that brain vasculature-specific genes encoding transport, adhesion, and extracellular matrix factors were differentially expressed in brain endothelial cells compared to endothelial cells from other organs during embryonic development. These data offer a rich resource for understanding the unique developmental and functional properties of this highly specialized tissue a nd may help to improve the creation of in vitro models of the BBB.  
 
Merger of American Heart and American Society of Hypertension  
Two major scientific and clinical organizations focused on cardiovascular disease and education plan to join forces, as reported by   PRNewswire . As of 2018, the American Society of Hypertension Board and Committee Members will be folded into the American Heart Association Hypertension Leadership Committee. Thus
ASH will dissolve as a singular enterprise, aligning its leadership, members, and activities with the mission and framework of the AHA. The unified organization will remain committed to funding innovative research, fighting for stronger public health policies, and providing critical tools, education, and information to save and improve lives affected by diseases of the circulatory system.  
 
AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Seeks Papers on Select Topics  
The American Journal of Physiology's periodical focused on cardiac and vascular topics has issued a special call for papers on select topics. Of particular interest to NAVBO members may be the appeal for papers on "Extracellular Matrix in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology," due by February 1, 2018. Special call editors Drs. Martinez-Lemus, Bloksgaard, and Lindsey welcome original manuscripts addressing specific mechanisms that intersect ECM-cellular interactions in any area or component of the cardiovascular system, as well as on the mechanisms by which specific ECM remodeling characteristics affect cell signaling, inflammation, and tissue repair. Other topics identified include "Cardiac Regeneration and Repair" and "Novel Mechanisms of Myocardial Ischemia, Ischemia - Reperfusion, and Protection by Myocardial Conditioning" (both due 2/1/18), as well as "miRNA Regulation of the Mitochondrion in Cardiovascular Disease" (8/31/17) and "Advances in Cardiovascular Geroscience" (9/30/17).

Job Postings
Job Title
Company
Location
University College London
London, England
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
Post-Doc
Children's Mercy
Kansas City, MO
Yale University
New Haven, CT
Postdoctoral Fellow
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Connecticut Health Center
Farmington,CT
Calendar of Events
Aug. 11-14, 2017
2017 APS Conference: Cardiovascular Aging, New Frontiers and Old Friends
Sept. 7, 2017
Straight Talk: 2017 National Health Research Forum
Sept. 27-28, 2017
2017 NHLBI Symposium on Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine
Oct. 4-7, 2017
4th Latin American Glycobiology Meeting
Oct. 15-19, 2017
Vascular Biology 2017
June 3-7, 2018
20th International Vascular Biology Meeting
June 9-12, 2018
XVIII International Symposium on Atherosclerosis
Advocating for Science - Call to Action
Contacting Your Representatives Can Make a Difference for Science
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released a white paper today offering recommendations for short-term budget action, and the list starts with replacing the current sequestration budget caps with more reasonable (read "higher") budget limits. It speaks volumes when key national thought leaders from both sides of the aisle assert the need for a deal that provides more room for discretionary budget growth. Use this action alert to reinforce their call to action in this regard. 

If you are a U.S. citizen, let your U.S. representatives hear from you and encourage them to be advocating for science. There are many methods by which to reach out -  from attending meetings or personal visits to congressional offices, to doing something as simple as writing a postcard.  Be sure to reach out to your district and state representatives. Now, in addition to funding the NIH budget and other federal biomedical research budgets, scientists must clearly express how other policies impact scientific collaboration, a key component in the scientific process.

For more information on public policy affecting the scientific community and ways that you can help, please visit NAVBO's Advocacy page - www.navbo.org/resources/advocate

Here are links to organizations that encourage, support and aid science advocates:
Coalition for the Life Sciences
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
Research!America

If you are aware  of other groups, please let us know and we will post them in future newsletter issues (send to info@navbo.org). 
North American Vascular Biology Organization | bernadette@navbo.org | http://www.navbo.org
18501 Kingshill Road
Germantown, MD 20874-2211