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Research Summary

The main focus of our laboratory is to study the cellular mechanisms of vascular tone under physiological conditions and the changes in these mechanisms in pathological conditions such as coronary artery disease, salt-sensitive hypertension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, varicose veins and other chronic vascular diseases. Projects include investigation of endothelium-dependent mechanisms of vascular relaxation, Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent mechanisms of vascular contraction, role of protein kinases and phosphatases in vascular smooth muscle contraction, mechanisms of gender-specific differences in vascular tone, role of endothelin in salt-sensitive hypertension, and cellular mechanisms responsible for vascular aneurysm formation, varicose veins and other inflammatory vascular disorders.

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Equipment & Techniques

State-of-the-art equipment to study various aspects of the vascular system at the whole animal, tissue, cellular, and molecular level are available. Powerful techniques such as physiological bioassays, radioimmunoassays, mRNA and protein analysis, cell and organ culture, immunofluorescence, digital imaging and confocal microscopy are also available.

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Funding

1. NIH/NHL 5R01 HL65998-08 (PI: Khalil, 05/2007 - 04/2011) -- "Vascular Mechanisms in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension."

The major goals of this project are to determine the vascular and cellular mechanisms underlying the increased arterial pressure during reduction of uterine perfusion pressure in late pregnant rats.

2. NIH/NHLBI R01 HL70659-05 (PI: Khalil, 07/2003 - 06/2008) -- "Vascular Protective Role of Endothelin B Receptors."

The major goals of this project are to determine the mechanisms of the increased arterial pressure during endothelin B receptor blockade in rats.

3. NIH/NHLB R01 HL083154-01A2 (PI-Lopez-Ilasaca, 07/2007 - 06/2012) -- "ATRAP in Vascular Growth and Remodeling."

The major goals of this project are to investigate the mechanism of ATRAP mediated vascular growth and to examine the role of ATRAP in vascular function.

4. NIH/NHLBI R01 HL 086907-01A1 (PI-Williams, 07/2007 - 06/2012) -- "Genetics of Human Hypertension."

The major goals of this project are to investigate the relationship of mineralocorticoid receptor and β-2 adrenergic receptor gene variants to the presence of metabolic syndrome/insulin resistance and hypertension in human.

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Publications

To access Dr. Raouf Khalil's publications, please click here.

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Contact Information

Raouf A. Khalil, M.D., Ph.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Division of Vascular Surgery
75 Francis Street Boston, MA 02115
Office Tel: 617.525.8530
Lab Tel: 617.525.8531
Fax: 617.264.5124
E-mail: raouf_khalil@hms.harvard.edu
rkhalil@partners.org

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Raouf Khalil
MD, PhD

Research Interests

Cellular Mechanisms of Vascular Tone
Coronary Artery Disease
Salt-Sensitive Hypertension
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Varicose Veins