Biography
Education:
1979-1984 | D.V.M. (Lithuanian Academy of Veterinary Sciences |
1984-1987 | Ph.D. (Institute of Biochemistry, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences) |
Training:
1991-1995 | Postdoctoral Fellow (LSU Medical Center, Shreveport, LA) |
1995-1997 | Postdoctoral Fellow (Victoria Hospital Research Institute, London, ON, Canada) |
Professional and Academic Experience
1997-2000 | Research Associate (Vascular Biology/Inflammation Program, Victoria Hospital Research Institute, London,ON, Canada) |
2000-2003 | Scientist (Vascular Biology/Inflammation Program, Victoria Hospital Research Institute, London, ON, Canada) |
2002-2008 | Assistant Professor (Cross-Appointment) Dept.Physiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada |
2007- 2013 | Assistant Professor (Cross-Appointment) Dept. Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, ON, Canada |
2006- 2007 | Assistant Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada |
2013- 2019 | Associate Professor, Dept. Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, ON, Canada |
2003- present | Scientist/Principal Investigator, Centre for Critical Illness Research, Victoria Hospital, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada |
2008- present | Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada |
2019- present | Professor, Dept. Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, ON, Canada |
Profession
Appointments
- 2019 - present: Professor, Dept. Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, ON, Canada
- 2008 - present: Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
Administrative Support
Research Group
Research Interest Area
Research Overview
Sepsis/Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) is the body’s response to infectious (ie bacterial infection) or noninfectious (ie trauma, organ transplantation, burn) insult, resulting in multiple organ failure. Sepsis is the leading cause of death from infection worldwide. Overwhelming activation of vascular endothelium and leukocytes are the key events contributing to sepsis/SIRS-induced injury and dysfunction of the affected organs. My research focuses on the mechanisms of sepsis/SIRS-induced activation of neutrophilic leukocytes and organ-specific vascular endothelial cells with respect to generation of the oxidative/nitrosative/proteolytic stresses, production of inflammatory cytokines, up-regulation of the pro-adhesive phenotype, and subsequent changes in vascular permeability and recruitment of the inflammatory cells. Carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) are used as new treatment to counteract sepsis/SIRS-induced inflammatory response.
Publications
Keywords
Partners
Ongoing research partnership with:
Dr. Douglas D. Fraser - Traumatic Brain Injury, Sepsis, Blood-Brain-Barrier dysfunction, Diagnostic Biomarkers, COVID-19 Inflammatory Blood Biomarkers
Dr. Abdel Lawendy - Limb Compartment Syndrome
Drs. Partick Luke and Alp Sener - Carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) in kidney transplantation
Dr. Kevin Shoemaker - Cerebrovascular outcomes in ischemic heart disease patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation
Other Professional Roles and Affiliations
Assistant Research Director; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
Member-Research Executive Committee, Dept. Medical Biophysiscs, Western University, London, ON, Canada