Maggie McCormick
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Maggie McCormick Tzima lab |
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Originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania, I received my BS in biology from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA in 2004. Following graduation, I was unsure whether my interest was in medicine or research. While working as a research technician at the University of Pennsylvania in the laboratory of Dr. Paul Janmey, I realized that research science was what I wanted to do, making the decision to get my PhD clear.
I joined the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology at UNC in the Fall of 2007, in Dr. Ellie Tzima’s lab. I could not be happier in this department and in Chapel Hill. Our department is highly collaborative, supportive and friendly. And the area is full of things to do - the mountains and beaches are close by, there is huge music scene and tons of ways to stay active.
In the Tzima lab, I have been studying the regulation of the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or NOS3). Upon activation, eNOS synthesizes the molecule nitric oxide (NO) which is critical for cardiovascular homeostasis. Numerous stimuli promote the activation of eNOS, leading to NO production. In this regard, it has been shown that the cell adhesion molecule PECAM-1 regulates eNOS activation in vitro and in vivo, possibly via a direct interaction between PECAM-1 and eNOS. However, the specifics of this interaction are not known. My current project is aimed at deciphering this interaction using both in vitro cell culture models and in vivo mouse models.
Publications
McCormick ME, Goel R, Fulton D, Oess S, Newman D, Tzima E. Platelet-Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Regulates Endothelial NO Synthase Activity and Localization Through Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3-Dependent NOSTRIN Expression. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010 Dec 23. [Epub ahead of print]
Activities/Awards
Awarded an Integrated Vascular Biology Training Grant (UNC), June 2009
Awarded an American Heart Association Predoctoral fellowship, July 2010
Presented a poster, "Investigating the role of PECAM-1 in regulating eNOS activity in response to flow" and gave a talk at Experimental Biology 2010 in Anaheim, CA
