SUNY Downstate Faculty, Graduate Student Receive Recognition from the American Heart Association
Jul 14, 2015
Brooklyn, NY – Liye Zhou, MS, a graduate student at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in the laboratory of Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology Mahmood Hussain, PhD, has been granted a competitive pre-doctoral American Heart Association (AHA) fellowship for her proposal entitled, "Identification of Human MicroRNAs Modulating ApoB and ApoA1 secretion."
In addition, an abstract by Dr. Hussain and Research Assistant Professor Ahmed Bakillah, PhD, DSc, entitled, "Adipose Specific Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein Deficient Mice Are Resistant to High Fat Diet Induced Obesity," which had been presented at a 2015 AHA Specialty Conference earlier this year, was ranked in the top 10 percent of presented abstracts and among the "Best of the AHA Specialty Conference."
“These are both great acknowledgements, and constitute the latest uplifting reminder of all of the outstanding research that is being done in the Department of Cell Biology and throughout SUNY Downstate,” said Christopher A. J. Roman, PhD, associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Cell Biology.
Ms. Zhou’s proposal involved identification of new microRNAs to simultaneously counteract high plasma LDL and low HDL, major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in the United States.
Dr. Hussain’s and Dr. Bakillah’s abstract focused on demonstrating how a protein that transfers fats may contribute to obesity. They suggested that agents that inactivate the protein may prove useful as anti-obesity drugs.
The abstract was invited to be re-presented at AHA’s Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida in November. Scientific Sessions attract nearly 18,000 attendees each year, with a global presence from more than 100 countries. It includes presentations and discussions on basic, translational, clinical, and population science from the world's leaders in cardiovascular disease.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.