MHI Seminar Series: Rong Tian, MD, PhD, “Metabolic Modulation of Cardiac Remodeling”

Speaker: Rong Tian, MD, PhD, Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Director of the Mitochondria and Metabolism Center, University of Washington

Seminar Title: “Metabolic Modulation of Cardiac Remodeling”

My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms regulating cell metabolism and energetics. A long-term goal of my laboratory is to understand the role of mitochondria and metabolism in the pathogenesis of human diseases, in particular cardiovascular diseases. We have utilized molecular and genetic approaches to identify and perturb specific regulators in the key pathways of cardiac energy metabolism in mice and subsequently interrogated the physiological and biochemical responses in vivo during the development of heart failure using multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy. Our work in the past two decades focused on the oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial ATP synthesis in heart failure using mouse models of altered glucose and fatty acid metabolism in the heart. Our recent work investigates the signaling role of cell metabolism through energy dependent and independent mechanisms. We also seek to decipher the mechanistic link between impaired mitochondrial function the cardiac stress responses. Results of these studies identified an important role of cellular redox state in diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction including cardiovascular and neurological pathologies. In collaboration with our clinical colleagues we are translating some of the research findings to clinical applications.