Dr. Theresa Grover is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and a board-certified neonatologist at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She developed an interest in the regulation of pulmonary vascular growth and function during her fellowship training at UCHSC. She has extensive experience in whole animal studies of fetal and neonatal pulmonary blood flow in the lamb and has developed a focused interest in the role of growth factor modulation of pulmonary vascular growth and function in the perinatal circulation. Her immediate goals are to learn the theories and practice of molecular and cell biology in order to provide better mechanistic understanding of the physiologic and structural changes seen in the whole animal studies. Her long-term goals are to use whole animal, molecular and cell culture techniques to focus on independent investigation of the regulation of pulmonary vascular growth and vasoreactivity in the perinatal lung. The research environment at UCHSC will provide an ideal setting in which to foster Dr. Grover's career development. She has chosen leaders in the field of pulmonary vascular biology to serve as her advisory committee. Dr. Steven Abman (mentor) has extensive experience in animal and clinical studies of pulmonary vasoreactivity. Dr. Kurt Stenmark's work has focused on cellular and molecular changes of smooth muscle cells in pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Russ Anthony is a PhD physiologist at Colorado State University and has extensive experience in studying the molecular endocrinology of pregnancy and placental angiogenesis. Dr. Grover will work directly with Drs. Abman, Stenmark, and Anthony to apply molecular and cell biology techniques learned through intensive course work to her studies of the effects of vascular growth factors on the fetal and neonatal pulmonary circulation. Dr. Grover will also enhance her career development through regular interactions with members of the Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratory (CVP) and the Perinatal Research Facility (PRF). Dr. Grover proposes to study the effects of VEGF treatment on pulmonary vascular structure and function in an experimental model of PPHN. She will examine the mechanisms responsible for structural vascular remodeling and endothelial cell dysfunction and apoptosis in neonatal pulmonary hypertension. These studies will provide an integrated approach to the hypothesis, incorporating whole animal physiology coupled with molecular and cellular studies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08HL072916-02
Application #
6876063
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-M (F1))
Program Officer
Colombini-Hatch, Sandra
Project Start
2004-04-01
Project End
2009-03-31
Budget Start
2005-04-01
Budget End
2006-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$130,680
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado Denver
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041096314
City
Aurora
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80045
Chester, Marc; Seedorf, Gregory; Tourneux, Pierre et al. (2011) Cinaciguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase activator, augments cGMP after oxidative stress and causes pulmonary vasodilation in neonatal pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 301:L755-64
Chester, Marc; Tourneux, Pierre; Seedorf, Greg et al. (2009) Cinaciguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase activator, causes potent and sustained pulmonary vasodilation in the ovine fetus. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 297:L318-25
Tourneux, Pierre; Chester, Marc; Grover, Theresa et al. (2008) Fasudil inhibits the myogenic response in the fetal pulmonary circulation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295:H1505-13
Grover, Theresa R; Parker, Thomas A; Abman, Steven H (2005) Vascular endothelial growth factor improves pulmonary vascular reactivity and structure in an experimental model of chronic pulmonary hypertension in fetal sheep. Chest 128:614S
Grover, Theresa R; Parker, Thomas A; Markham, Neil E et al. (2005) rhVEGF treatment preserves pulmonary vascular reactivity and structure in an experimental model of pulmonary hypertension in fetal sheep. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 289:L315-21