March 7, 2019
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Vascular Biology 
Monterey, CA  
October 27-31, 2019

Lymphatic Forum 2019
Austin, TX
May 30 - June 1, 2019

Vasculata 2019
Medical College of Wisconsin
July 13 - 18, 2019

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Affiliated Journals
Partner Network Advantage - New Job Board Feature
Why post your job on NAVBO's career center rather than going directly to the larger job networks?
Pricing on the mass job boards can vary, but to get a job noticed you typically have to sponsor it for $5 - $10 per day, which can add up quickly especially since you also pay for each click the job gets. When you add it all together, you could be spending up to $45 per day on your job posting. But, when posting a job on NAVBO's career center, you simply pay a flat fee! The Premium package includes our Exclusive Extended Partner Network - which means the jobs are broadcast to sites like ZipRecruiter and Jobs2Careers and more for a flat fee.
 
With special member pricing, you can post a job for as low as $300 with this Partner Network. You never pay for each click, just the flat fee on the NAVBO career center. In addition, the Premium package includes a 60-day job posting making it a great value. The Premium packages also offer features like having your company's logo featured on the career center homepage, having your job appear first in search results, and more.
 
Post your open position now at www.navbo.org/jobs! 
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Help Support NAVBO 
NAVBO Privacy Policy
Your data privacy and security are important to NAVBO. To that end, we have updated our privacy policy to reflect recent privacy and security regulation implementations and changes. Please review our policy as time permits so you have a complete understanding of the data we have, why we have it, and how we use it.
 
Part of the updates relate directly to the European Union's new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that went into place May 25.   The GDPR seeks to improve the transparency of data usage and give end users more control over their own data. We believe these changes are important and will be compliant with the GDPR regulations.
 
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Congratulations to the 2019 Benditt and Folkman Awardees


2019 Earl P. Benditt Award

William C. Sessa, Ph.D.
Yale University
2019 Judah Folkman Award in Vascular Biology
Anne Eichmann, Ph.D.
Yale University
The NAVBO Meritorious Awards Committee and Council is pleased to announce the selection of William Sessa, PhD , as the 2019 recipient of the Earl P. Benditt Award, in recognition of his numerous contributions to our understanding of mechanisms regulating nitric oxide production in the vascular endothelium. Dr. Sessa is currently the Alfred Gilman Professor of Pharmacology and Professor of Medicine at Yale University, where he also serves as Vice Chairman of Pharmacology and Director of the Vascular Biology & Therapeutics Program . He will present the Benditt Lecture and receive the award at Vascular Biology 2019 in Pacific Grove, California (October 27, 2019). 
Read more.
The NAVBO Meritorious Awards Committee, the Scientific Advisory Board, and the NAVBO Council announce with pleasure the selection of Anne Eichmann, Ph.D., as the recipient of the 2019 Judah Folkman Award in Vascular Biology.  This award recognizes outstanding contributions from vascular biologists who are at mid-career (within fifteen years of their first faculty appointment). Dr. Eichmann will present her Folkman Award Lecture, titled "Guidance of Vascular Barrier Formation" and receive the award at Vascular Biology 2019 in Pacific Grove, California (October 30, 2019).
Read More
Lymphatic Forum 2019
AustinBrightNight
Abstracts are due March 15!
Submit your abstract today

Please download and post:
Next Webinar - Stryder Meadows
Angiopoietin-2 inhibition rescues arteriovenous malformation in a Smad4 HHT mouse model

Join  us on March 14 - at 1:00pm EST for a webinar with Stryder Meadows of Tulane University.  Dr. Meadow's presentation will discuss alternative approaches that target ANGPT2 function which may have therapeutic value for the improvement of HHT symptoms, such as AVMs.

For more details and to register go to: http://www.navbo.org/events/webinars/778-web032019
 
NAVBO Webinars are free for current NAVBO Members.   
This webinar is being co-sponsored by:

 
 

Don't Miss These Upcoming Webinars:
April 11 - William Sessa, Yale University
May 2 - Joyce Bischoff, Boston Children's Hospital
June 13 - Daniel Greif, Yale University
July 11 - Kishore Wary, University of Illinois at Chicago
 
And don't forget you can watch archived webinars as well - go to  
Product News*
Introducing ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science

ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
 is a new journal from the American Chemical Society publishing high-quality, innovative research across the broad spectrum of biological sciences.
 
Read Volume 2, Issue 1, free courtesy of ACS Publications.  
 
 
 
And don't miss NAVBO member Professor Kathleen M. Caron's latest work in our Articles ASAP.
Getting to Know More NAVBO Members
Meet Sarah-Anne Nicholas
Sarah-Anne N
Sarah-Anne is a Graduate Assistant at UCONN Health.  She presented her work, " Alternative splicing of Fn induced by inflammation affects differentiation of antigen presenting cells and T-cell recruitment in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)," at the Tuesday night poster session at Vascular Biology 2018. Sarah-Anne is pictured here with Vascular Inflammation workshop organizers, Masanori Aikawa and William Muller.   

Sarah-Anne recently spoke with Membership Committee Member, Randa Breikaa of Nationwide Children's Hospital.
 
How did you first learn about NAVBO?    
I learned about NAVBO working with my mentor, Dr. Patrick Murphy, who is a longtime member.

Tell us about the research you presented and your mentor?   
Dr. Patrick Murphy, my mentor, began his career as an endothelial cell biologist in the lab of Dr. Rong Wang at UC San Francisco and developed interests in the effect of the endothelium on inflammation during his post-doctoral fellowship in the lab of Dr. Hynes at MIT.
 
Our lab works on the relationship between alternative splicing in the endothelium and inflammatory responses. During Dr. Murphy's post-doc, he identified monocyte-dependent alternative splicing of the extracellular matrix molecule fibronectin (Fn) under inflammatory conditions of low and disturbed flow. As monocytes act as antigen presenting cells, we hypothesized that alternative splicing of Fn in the endothelium would affect monocyte function and therefore adaptive immune responses. By using an in vitro co-culture system, we found that co-culture of wild-type monocytes on endothelial cells unable to splice alternative exons EIIIA and EIIIB into Fn interfered with the endothelium's ability to suppress inflammatory pathways in these cells, as determined by 3'DGE RNA-seq. This exciting finding suggests that alternative splicing by the endothelium can affect innate immune cell behavior and, therefore, adaptive immune responses.
 
What was your favorite event at the meeting? 
I really enjoyed the Lunch and Learn for Trainees. As a PhD student, it was very helpful to hear about the experiences of both post-docs as well as tenured faculty. The relaxed atmosphere made it easy to ask any and all questions. During our lunch, we discussed what PIs are looking for when applying to post-doc positions, what departments are looking for when applying to faculty positions, the experience of progressing from a faculty position to a department head, the experience of scientists at the NIH, and much more!  
 
Did you meet any people at the meeting who influence your research?  
At NAVBO 2018, I was able to meet Dr. Timothy Hla. Dr. Hla actually founded the Center for Vascular Biology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, where our lab is located. Without his groundbreaking research, I wouldn't be doing the work I am today!
 
Additionally, I was able to meet Dr. Wayne Orr, a collaborator of Dr. Murphy, who has made key contributions to our understanding of how extracellular matrix impacts endothelial activation.
 
What benefits did the travel award have for you?  
The travel award highlighted the unique and exciting work that our lab is doing, for which I am very grateful. Hopefully, this exposure will lead to more interest in our work and more opportunities to speak. Additionally, the award provided financial resources which made it easier for me to attend the meeting.  
 
What benefits can a trainee expect from attending NAVBO?   
Trainees can expect a wide range of content expertise and the opportunity to attend many seminars on various topics in the span of a few short days. Presenting posters also allows trainees to hone their skills. Additionally, as giants in the field attend NAVBO, it is the perfect place to learn from the best, as well as to network and establish oneself.
    
What future goals do you have for your work?  
We wish to further understand the role of splice factors in regulating inflammation. Specifically, one goal is to characterize the effect of endothelial alternative splicing programs on immune cell phenotype. As dysregulated adaptive immune responses can result in atherosclerosis or lead to autoimmune disease, identifying endothelial regulators of adaptive immune responses may provide new insight into the many diseases affected by these interactions.
 
Ultimately, I hope to work in an industry position that allows me to use my knowledge of vascular inflammation towards the development of therapeutics for inflammatory diseases.
 
How can NAVBO help you achieve these goals?  
As NAVBO hosts the top vasculature researchers from both academia and industry, the meeting is a great opportunity to get insightful feedback on current projects as well as to keep up to date on cutting edge techniques. Furthermore, forming relationships with members in the field could lead to collaborations and would inform our future work.
 
Additionally, the opportunities to present at NAVBO, as well as to network with many academic and industry leaders, will undoubtedly shape and influence my career progression and goals.
 
Who did you most enjoy meeting/hearing talk?  
I really enjoyed the opening session and Dr. Paul Kube's talk on "Imaging Sterile Inflammation and Repair." It highlighted the value of intravital imaging and influenced my goals for my thesis project to include this type of analysis. As a PhD student early in my career, many of the talks helped provide a new perspective on the field of vascular biology - from basic to applied to clinical, that will help me as I initiate my own work.

See more interviews online at http://www.navbo.org/membership/spotlight-awardees 
Lessons Learned
Dr. Corinne Nielsen
My name is Corinne Nielsen, and I have been an Assistant Professor, in the Department of Biological Sciences, at Ohio University since 2016. I am pleased to introduce you to our lab and our research and to share some Lessons Learned, as a new independent investigator.
 
Embrace your new pace
One of the biggest adjustments I made was to adjust my expectations for the pace of research in a newly established lab. During my PhD and postdoctoral training, my academic life focused on lab work and very little else. Suddenly, with many more commitments - from teaching obligations to lab management to proposal writing - I spend less time in lab and acquire fewer data than I am used to. As the lab has found its footing, and as new lab members receive training and develop independence, the pace has quickened; however, this transition taught me another lesson, which is to...
 
Learn to give up control
Micromanaging the details of every lab protocol and daily troubleshooting is not tenable or healthy, for the long-term benefit of the lab. Give lab members the training and tools to complete an experiment, meet regularly to discuss outcomes/results, and celebrate the achievements.
 
Be prepared to face roadblocks
While I was setting up my lab (and especially while establishing and working with an animal colony), I naively assumed that moving from Point A to Point B would follow a straight path; rather, I often journeyed down a zigzag path, peppered with setbacks and side trips. Along the way, I realized that as long as we kept moving forward, even though more slowly than expected, we were headed in the right direction, and the only option was to tackle and overcome the roadblocks, one at a time.
 
Be prepared to spend money
This was much harder than I expected. Even with a detailed budget, I found it difficult to spend money on big ticket items to equip the lab fully. In fact, fretting over spending start-up funds probably dinged our overall efficiency. Make decisions on big purchases in a timely manner - the sooner you invest in your lab's productivity and longevity, the sooner you will see returns on your investment.
 
Dedicate time to writing...
...and take the writing seriously. I have found a small faculty group that meets regularly - usually at a coffee shop - for uninterrupted writing sessions. By planning these sessions into our calendars, we hold each other accountable, we share an expectation that writing will move forward, and we enjoy collegial companionship. I have strengthened professional relationships and gained personal friendships, by participating in these writing groups.
 
Develop long-term professional goals
Perhaps this works for me, because I am very goal-oriented and relish the daily "check, check, check" of my to-do list. Outlining professional goals and understanding my department's expectations has led me to strategize about how to achieve those goals within set periods of time. Hopefully, this will keep deadlines from popping up unexpectedly and allow goals to be met realistically.
 
Be a good colleague
Build your professional network at your institution and beyond. At each step along my academic trajectory - education, training, work experience - my network of colleagues, collaborators, and supporters has been paramount. My network has challenged me, critiqued me, offered opportunities to me, commiserated with me, celebrated with me, and I am committed to doing the same for others. That said, I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming NAVBO meeting! 
Lab of the Month
The Lab of Corinne Nielsen
 
This month we are highlighting the lab of Dr. Corinne Nielsen, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ohio University. Find out more about Dr. Nielsen and her lab at  http://www.navbo.org/membership/members-labs/796-lab032019.  
Spotlight on Trainees
Subtle pressures that erode scientific impact and public trust
Research ethics and academic integrity should be in the forefront of our minds as we undertake new studies and support our findings. Mentors and educators have a moral obligation to impart to their trainees the values that underpin our trust in one another's work and fulfill our obligations to those who sponsor our work.  This issue is addressed in Rigor Mortis: How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope, and Wastes Billions, written by NPR science correspondent Richard Harris and published in 2017.  The book, which considers a spectrum of contributing factors, was inspired in part by the 2014 report from scientists at Amgen that an alarmingly high percentage of promising biomedical studies could not be replicated.
Member News
Welcome to our New Members:
Huang Huang, Johns Hopkins University
Jeong-Hyeon Sohn, University of Texas Health Science Center

If you have news to share with your colleagues, send it to membership@navbo.org
 Recent Publications by NAVBO Members

MicroRNA-dependent regulation of biomechanical genes establishes tissue stiffness homeostasis
Nature Cell Biology
Vertebrate tissues exhibit mechanical homeostasis, showing stable stiffness and tension over time and recovery after changes in mechanical stress. However, the regulatory pathways that mediate these effects are unknown.  Read more

 

Staphylococcus aureus Leukocidins Target Endothelial DARC to Cause Lethality in Mice
Cell Host and Microbe
The pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus is thought to depend on the production of pore-forming leukocidins that kill leukocytesand lyse erythrocytes. Two leukocidins, Leukocidin ED (LukED) and γ-Hemolysin AB (HlgAB),are necessary and sufficient to kill mice upon infection and toxin challenge.  Read more

 

Role of Noncoding RNAs in the Pathogenesis of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Circulation Research
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a local dilatation of the abdominal aortic vessel wall and is among the most challenging cardiovascular diseases as without urgent surgical intervention, ruptured AAA has a mortality rate of >80%.  Read more

 

miR-214 is Stretch-Sensitive in Aortic Valve and Inhibits Aortic Valve Calcification
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
miR-214 has been recently found to be significantly downregulated in calcified human aortic valves (AVs). ER stress, especially the ATF4-mediated pathway, has also been shown to be significantly upregulated in calcific AV disease.  Read more

 

Disturbed Flow Increases UBE2C (Ubiquitin E2 Ligase C) via Loss of miR-483-3p, Inducing Aortic Valve Calcification by the HIF-1a (Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1a) Pathway in Endothelial Cells
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombsosis & Vascular Biology
Objective- Calcific aortic valve (AV) disease, characterized by AV sclerosis and calcification, is a major cause of death in the aging population; however, there are no effective medical therapies other than valve replacement.  Read more

 

Structural and functional analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphic variants of purine-rich element-binding protein B
Journal of Cell Biochemistry
Purine-rich element-binding protein B (Purß) inhibits myofibroblast differentiation by repressing the expression of the smooth muscle a-actin gene (Acta2). Several reports have identified the structural domains in Purß that enable its characteristic interaction with purine-rich single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) sequences in the Acta2 promoter.  Read more

 

Cardosin A Endocytosis Mediated by Integrin Leads to Lysosome Leakage and Apoptosis of Epithelial Cells
Proteins
Cardosin A is an aspartic protease present in large amount in the pistils of cardoon flowers. This protease is known to contain an -Arg-Gly-Asp- (RGD) motif located on the molecular surface.  Read more

 

Effect of TRPA1 activator allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on rat dural and pial arteries
Pharmacological Reports
Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels may have a role in migraine as some substances known to cause headache activate the channel. In the craniovascular system such activation causes a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-dependent increase in meningeal blood flow.  Read more

Industry News
Has the time come to establish a US advisory board for research integrity?
Writing in Nature, C. K. Gunsalus of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and colleagues call for the establishment of a national policy board that focuses on the robustness and quality of research findings.  The authors recount, and lament the limitations of, previous efforts to define and address systemic problems in the medical research enterprise.  Priorities of the policy board would include providing guidance on "...addressing issues related to authorship, raising the quality of peer review, educating researchers on responsible conduct and robust analysis, streamlining research administration and assessing the research environment."

Disrupted sleep and vascular integrity?
From the Twitterverse comes, via Hellmut Augustin, an alert to the recent contribution from NAVBO members Filip Swirski and Peter Libby linking sleep, or the lack of it, to the pathophysiology of hematopoiesis and atherosclerosis.  The authors report that mice whose sleep patterns were experimentally fragmented produce more Ly-6C-high monocytes, develop larger atherosclerotic lesions,  and produce lower levels of hypothalamic signaling agents that normally dampen myelopoiesis by limiting pre-neutrophil CSF1 in the bone marrow.  Such a neuro-immune axis could effectively connect sleep quality to immune function and cardiovascular disease.
 
Job Postings
Calendar of Events
April 3 - 6, 2019
Blood Brain Barrier
April 11 - 13, 2019
11th Congress of the Vascular Access Society
April 15 - 18, 2019
ESM-EVBO 2019
May 10 - 13, 2019
APVBO Conference 2019
May 30 - June 1, 2019
Lymphatic Forum 2019
June 12 - 16, 2019
13th HHT International Science Conference
Oct. 27 - 31, 2019
Vascular Biology 2019
North American Vascular Biology Organization | bernadette@navbo.org | http://www.navbo.org
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