About

Dr. Adam Akerman’s vision is to establish an inclusive environment where scientists, medical professionals, and researchers can creatively collaborate to investigate and analyze disease pathology. He aims to bridge the healthcare gap by pioneering more accessible, affordable treatments—especially for communities historically denied equal access to quality care.

Early in his graduate career, he committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in STEM. Though the challenge was daunting, he remained determined to drive real change.

As director of the Cardiovascular Research Laboratory in UNC’s Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dr. Akerman has recruited, mentored, and worked alongside individuals from a wide range of communities—valuing each as a scientist and professional first. He believes success should be measured by those we empower, not those we exclude.

His work focuses on developing inexpensive, scalable therapeutics and diagnostics. To support this mission, he established a translational research facility, small animal surgical lab, and a large clinical tissue and plasma repository to advance cardiovascular research and innovation.

Cardiovascular Research Laboratory

• Protein Simple Jess System – A capillary-based nano-immunoassay size-based separation platform with chemiluminescent, two-color fluorescence detection and RePlex™.
• Bio-Rad ddPCR workstation, which includes a QX-200 droplet generator, a Qx-200 Droplet reader, laptop with QuantaSoft Software, and a dedicated C-1000 Touch thermocycler.
• Izon Science qNano Gold Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensor (TRPS).
• qEV Automatic Fraction Collector (Izon Science).
• Luminex LX-200 – An immune based multiplex suspension array platform that provides a robust, rapid, specific, and cost-effective approach for high-throughput and simultaneous quantification of many different protein targets simultaneously.
• Applied Biosystems StepOne Plus with dedicated laptop and Bio-Rad CFX96 Real-Time PCR Systems.
• Molecular Devices SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Detection Platform and Imaging Cytometer complete with SpectraDrop micro-volume microplate and a ScanLater WesternBlot cartridge.
• Molecular Devices Aquamax 2000 automated plate washing station with standard and 96 well cell-wash heads with magnetic stage.
• Bio-Rad C-1000 touch two-block gradient thermocycler.
• A dedicated 37⁰C incubator for bacterial culture and plasmid preparation.
• Echo Labs Revolve hybrid upright and inverted LED 8 MP microscope with air and oil objectives ranging from 4X to 60X (Achromat and Fluorite), an ELWD hi resolution condenser, and multiple LED filter sets.
• The Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Murine Procedure Facility is equipped with rodent operating stations, each with a high-quality surgical microscope (0.5-2.5X, Zeiss Opmi6), a thermostatically controlled far infrared warming pad and multi-functioning surgical platform (Kent Scientific), an isoflurane vaporizer (Ohmeda) connected to controlled-flow oxygen lines, and a small animal ventilator (VentElite, Harvard Apparatus).
• Dedicated BSL-2 cell culture facility.
• BTX-800-ECM in vitro and in vivo Electroporation system.
• Bacterial Transformation and Expression Vector Production Facility.

Awards, Honors, and Funded Projects

Enhanced Biochemical Monitoring for Aortic Aneurysm Disease
NIH/NHLBI 1 R01 HL169390-01
Akerman (PI)
July 01, 2023-June 30 2027
Aortic Aneurysm (AA) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality; AAs weaken the vessel wall and lead to dilation that often progresses to rupture in the absence of symptoms. There are no point-of-care diagnostic tests available that either screen for AAs or follow disease progression to optimize timing for surgical intervention. This award will advance a standardized screening technique that determines aneurysm presence, location, and diameter; such information may be used for risk stratification and will surely mitigate life-threatening aortic complications in the general population.

Device-Based Pathway Intervention: Mechanistic Study of Cellular Localization of Proteolytic Enzymes in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Disease
NIH/NHLBI R56 HL161454-01A1
Ikonomidis (PI) Role: Co-Investigator
September 22, 2022 – September 21, 2023
Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a deadly disease for which there is currently no effective medical therapy. This laboratory has identified three molecules that mediate the formation and progression of aneurysm disease; our approach is clinically relevant and will study the functions of these molecules in order to develop new methods for non-surgical treatment. The myriad benefits of such treatment are self-evident; we are, however, particularly interested in bridging the current health gap by pioneering better, more accessible, ways to treat all patients and ensuring democratized access to the highest quality care.

Investigating the Effects of Bupropion (Wellbutrin/Zyban) On Aortic Aneurysm
2022 Innovation Pilot Award
Caranasos (PI) Role: Co-Investigator
June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023
The FDA-approved antidepressant, Bupropion, has been demonstrated to regulate two independent pathways involved with aortic aneurysm progression. The overall goal of this project is to demonstrate Bupropion prevents aneurysm progression in an animal model.

Development of a Liquid Biopsy Based Diagnostic Test for Assessing Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Disease
2021 UNC Idea Grant
Akerman (PI)
July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

Defining the role of mesenchymal stem cells in aortic aneurysm disease
2021 Junior Faculty Development Award
Akerman (PI)
January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021

Development of a method for targeted gene delivery to the murine thoracic aorta
2021 North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute Pilot Award: 2KR1352001
Akerman (PI)
4/1/2021-3/30/2022

Exploration of key proteases and validation of biomarkers in genetically triggered thoracic aortic aneurysms
NIH/NHLBI R21HL148363
Ikonomidis (PI) Role: Co-Investigator
08/01/19-07/31/21

Ex-vivo lung perfusion to deliver nucleic acids to cells in human lungs
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Egan (PI), Role: Co-Investigator
2/1/2020-1/31/22

Transmembrane Proteolytic Induction and Thoracic Aneurysms NIH/NHLBI R01HL102121
Ikonomidis (PI) Role: Co-Investigator
4/1/2010-4/30/2021

Dr. Raymond S. Greenberg Presidential Scholar, Medical University of South Carolina. (2016-2017) A yearlong inter-professional experience that maximizes exploration of complex social, political, and human issues related to healthcare.

Eric James Award Recipient, Medical University of South Carolina (2016) – First place oral presentation award recipient of a university-wide research competition.

NIH/NHLBI T32 Cardiovascular Competitive Training Grant Recipient: HL007260-37 (2013-2015).

Publications

Read a list of Dr. Akerman’s recent publications by clicking here

Search for publications on PubMed using Akerman, AW as search criteria