Director
James K. Liao, MD
Director, Cardiovascular Research Laboratory
Harold H. Hines Jr. Professor
Chief, Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine; Medical Director, Heart & Vascular Center
Director, Physician Scientist Development Program (PSDP)
Dr. Liao’s research focuses on the signaling pathways that govern vascular function in both normal and diseased states. His laboratory work seeks to translate basic findings in the vascular wall to therapeutic applications in patients with vascular diseases. He has characterized the function of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with regards to its regulation by G- proteins, lipoproteins, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), and steroid hormones.
Faculty and Administrators
Corey Tabit, MD, MBA, MPH
Assistant Professor
Rongxue Wu (Rosie), PhD
Assistant Professor
E-mail: rwu3@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Postdoctoral Researchers and Visiting Scholars
Nikola Sladojevic, MD, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Nik’s long-term research interest is the comprehensive understanding of key molecular mechanisms involved in dynamic changes of blood brain barrier in variety of diseases. His previous research has been focused on the molecular basis of inflammation in the central nervous system, particularly inflammatory molecular events at the blood brain barrier after stroke.
He joined the laboratory in 2015.
Haw-Chih Tai, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Haw-Chih is a Ph.D.-trained researcher who works on extracellular matrix and cellular composition of vasculature. Haw-Chih is interested in the molecular regulators on the development of cardiovascular diseases. He enjoys thinking about these questions from different angles and aspects.
He joined the laboratory in 2017.
Xiaoou Li, MD, PhD
Visiting Scholar
Xiaoou is a visiting scholar from Renming Hospital of Wuhan University. She is working on delineating the connection between the Rho/ROCK signalling pathway and browning of adipose tissue.
She joined the laboratory in September of 2018.
E-mail: xli5@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Dongbo Yu, MD, PhD
Research Fellow
Dongbo joined the laboratory in 2019.
Graduate Students
Lab Administrators and Technicians
Jyothi Janardanan, MSc
Lab Manager
Jyothi joined the laboratory in 2015.
E-mail: jyothij@uchicago.edu
Rhys Chua, MSc
Data Analyst/Lab Technician
E-mail: rchua@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Brian Yu
Researcher
Brian’s research concerns Rho-kinases (ROCKs), a downstream target for the GTP-binding protein Rho, and its potential mediatory effects in cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and stroke.
He joined the laboratory in December of 2015.
Students Division
Linus Park
Research Assistant
Linus is a second year in the College, majoring in Biology. He joined the laboratory in January of 2018.
Gerardo Perla
Research Assistant
Gerardo is a third year in the College, majoring in Biology. He joined the laboratory in January of 2018.
Jui Malankar
Research Assistant
Jui is a third year in the College, majoring in Biology. She joined the laboratory in April of 2018.
Dhiraj Patel
Research Assistant
Dhiraj is a second year in the College, majoring in Neuroscience. He joined the laboratory in 2019.
For former staff, click here.