NIDDK K01 and AHA Career Development Awardees
The Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and the Center for Hepatobiliary and Gastrointestinal Research (CHGR) within the Institutes of Perioperative Medicine (IPM) proudly announce three new Career Development Awards from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the American Heart Association (AHA). These awards underscore the department’s commitment to advancing perioperative medicine through high-impact research and the training of early-career scientists. Focused on mechanisms of organ injury, the funded projects support our young investigators in identifying disease pathways, developing therapeutics, and accelerating patient recovery.
Dr. Yankai Wen, PhD, mentored by Dr. Cynthia Ju, PhD, was awarded a NIDDK K01 for investigating the “Role of Neutrophil-derived HIF1a signaling in Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.” This study aims to uncover the deleterious role of neutrophil-derived HIF1a/MIF signaling, providing new insights into how these immune cells mediate liver damage. This research is critical for understanding the inflammatory surge that occurs when blood flow is restored to the liver during major surgical procedures and transplantation.
Dr. Mi Jeong Heo, PhD also received a NIDDK K01 award for her project, “Role of Kynurenine-AhR Signals in Cholestatic Liver Injury,” mentored by Dr. Kangho Kim, PhD. Dr. Heo is exploring the kynurenine pathway and its regulation of AhR function to clarify its impact on mitochondrial function, bile acid metabolism, and tissue inflammation. Her goal is to identify promising therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for patients with cholestatic liver disease.
Additionally, Dr. Yang Yang, PhD, has received an American Heart Association (AHA) Career Development Award (CDA) for the project “Role of Intestinal Eosinophils and Mucosal Immunity in Diet-Induced Obesity.” Mentored by Dr. Cynthia Ju, PhD, Dr. Yang will investigate cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin signaling in intestinal eosinophils and their effects on nutrient absorption and metabolic homeostasis. This work aims to clarify the link between unhealthy diet, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease, and to identify potential therapeutic strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk.
These achievements highlight the department’s commitment to translating basic science into clinical practice. By supporting innovative research and career development for early-career scientists, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms of organ injury and advance more effective treatments in critical care medicine. Please join us in congratulating our investigators and mentors on their accomplishments.
