NEWS and ACHIEVEMENTS
Molecular & Cellular Physiology
Trainee Achievements
Garret Stroud: (SMART student) won best poster award, High School division, BRAID Oct 2024; Malcolm Feist Cardiovascular Symposium 2025 (first place), and JSHS 2025 (third place in his category)
Tashawna Esmond: Best Poster Award, Gulf Coast Vascular Research Consortium, Oct 24
Frankie Parratt: 2nd place poster award at CCDS summer research programs poster session, Aug 2025
Louise Welch: Received a Travel Award to attend Vascular Biology 2025, the Annual Meeting of NAVBO. Mrs. Frausto also received the 2025 Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the summer “Physiology for Allied Health Professionals” course. She was also invited to present her work in NAVBO’s InFocus Webinar Series on putrescine biosynthesis in smooth muscle cell differentiation and obtained the first Metabolic and Liver Diseases Research Program Predoctoral Fellowship award.
Alex Hudson: Received a predoctoral fellowship through the Multidisciplinary Training in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology (MTCP) T32 program.
Dhananjay Kumar: Obtained an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. Dhananjay was also invited to present his work in the Early Innovators Spotlight oral session at this year’s Scientific Sessions.
Researching Cerebrovascular Disease
We have two very talented graduate students who have been successful in getting fellowships and conference awards. We recently had outstanding undergraduate and high school students who were with us over the summer/past year. If you are a talented undergraduate student who is interested in researching cerebrovascular disease, check with us to see if we have a spot for you.
Dr. Dragoi receives NIAID Grant Award
Congratulations to Dr. Ana-Maria Dragoi, Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology. Dr. Dragoi has been awarded a 5-year grant for $1,788,500.00 from The National Institute of Allergy and Inflectious Diseases. The project title is, “Mechanism of macrophages colonization in gonorrhea”. Great job Dr. Dragoi!!
Physiology Faculty receive Research Excellence Awards
Three Molecular and Cellular Physiology faculty members awarded with LSUHS Research Excellence Awards. During its 7th Annual Research Celebration, the institution recognized notable research achievements from the past year and honored faculty members for their exceptional achievements with Research Excellence Awards.
Ana-Maria Dragoi, MD, PhD honored with the "Research Rising Star" award.
Changwon Park, PhD honored with "Excellence in Scholarly Activity" award for exceptional contributions to high-impact, peer-reviewed publications.
Arif Yurdagul, Jr., PhD honored with "Excellence in Scholarly Activity" award for exceptional contributions to high-impact, peer-reviewed publications.
Vascular Discovery 2024 Conference
More News
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From high school students to undergraduate summer researchers and medical students to graduate trainees and postdoctoral fellows, Karen Stokes, PhD, introduces future scientists and physicians to the research enterprise.
![A man in a lab coat and blue gloves uses a pipette to transfer liquid into a test tube, with shelves of lab equipment and supplies in the background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1784668325/lsuhscshreveportedu/pq4zfsndhl9vdmz61uv5/ChrisPattillonews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1784668325/lsuhscshreveportedu/pq4zfsndhl9vdmz61uv5/ChrisPattillonews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1784668325/lsuhscshreveportedu/pq4zfsndhl9vdmz61uv5/ChrisPattillonews.png","width":520}])
Christopher Pattillo, PhD, Professor of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, secured a new five-year R01 grant from the NIH National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
![Man with light complexion, short black hair, wearing glasses and lab coat, against a mottled grey background]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1784579535/lsuhscshreveportedu/rtuxn9nwhd2q5myop1mh/ChangwonParknews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1784579535/lsuhscshreveportedu/rtuxn9nwhd2q5myop1mh/ChangwonParknews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1784579535/lsuhscshreveportedu/rtuxn9nwhd2q5myop1mh/ChangwonParknews.png","width":520}])
Congratulations to Physiology faculty member Dr. Changwon Park on his promotion from Associate Professor to Professor.
![Portraits of two men wearing lab coats]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1779222123/lsuhscshreveportedu/wk9eo41qxaufxefjrdcr/OrrandYurdagulnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1779222123/lsuhscshreveportedu/wk9eo41qxaufxefjrdcr/OrrandYurdagulnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1779222123/lsuhscshreveportedu/wk9eo41qxaufxefjrdcr/OrrandYurdagulnews.png","width":520}])
LSUHS researchers A. Wayne Orr, PhD, and Arif Yurdagul, PhD, received a $2,869,114 NIH R01 award from the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to advance research in cardiovascular disease.
![Three men in lab coats in a laboratory, one man looking in a microscope while the others look on]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770413048/lsuhscshreveportedu/f2pfuwo00htsfsh2lkcp/Yurdagullabnews_DA.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770413048/lsuhscshreveportedu/f2pfuwo00htsfsh2lkcp/Yurdagullabnews_DA.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1770413048/lsuhscshreveportedu/f2pfuwo00htsfsh2lkcp/Yurdagullabnews_DA.png","width":520}])
LSU Health Shreveport researchers Oren Rom, PhD, RD, and Arif Yurdagul, PhD, received a $2,902,365 award from the NIH National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute (NHLBI) to advance research in cardiovascular disease.
![Two women in graduation regalia holding diplomas, smiling, people milling around in background]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1778860639/lsuhscshreveportedu/xog3mt9yog8w40mmlfbp/PhysGrads2026.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1778860639/lsuhscshreveportedu/xog3mt9yog8w40mmlfbp/PhysGrads2026.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1778860639/lsuhscshreveportedu/xog3mt9yog8w40mmlfbp/PhysGrads2026.png","width":520}])
The Physiology Department is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and faculty following the recent Commencement Ceremony at LSU Health Shreveport for the Class of 2026.
![Two women and one man in graduation regalia holding plaques]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1778526470/lsuhscshreveportedu/pypk9bxtvlxgkxi5wxbw/CoppingAward2026news.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1778526470/lsuhscshreveportedu/pypk9bxtvlxgkxi5wxbw/CoppingAward2026news.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1778526470/lsuhscshreveportedu/pypk9bxtvlxgkxi5wxbw/CoppingAward2026news.png","width":520}])
At its most recent commencement, LSU Health Shreveport recognized three standout faculty members with the university system’s most prestigious teaching honor in Medicine, the Allen A. Copping Excellence in Teaching Award.
![Three men in business attire, standing in building lobby next to sign "We are Physiology"]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1777498335/lsuhscshreveportedu/voiuzkyacddten955mux/ElSaafienlabsummitnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1777498335/lsuhscshreveportedu/voiuzkyacddten955mux/ElSaafienlabsummitnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1777498335/lsuhscshreveportedu/voiuzkyacddten955mux/ElSaafienlabsummitnews.png","width":520}])
Dr. El Saafien’s lab had the pleasure of attending the annual American Physiology Summit in Minneapolis. Lab members Gavyn Navarro, Research Associate, and Salman Saleh, Postdoctoral Fellow, presented data from their ongoing projects.
![Six men in business attire pose, some holding plaques, in front of a stage inside a building]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1776786577/lsuhscshreveportedu/wf4ojsm2id0zgcopaat3/PhysiologyResearchAwardsnews2026.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1776786577/lsuhscshreveportedu/wf4ojsm2id0zgcopaat3/PhysiologyResearchAwardsnews2026.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1776786577/lsuhscshreveportedu/wf4ojsm2id0zgcopaat3/PhysiologyResearchAwardsnews2026.png","width":520}])
LSUHS celebrated research excellence and momentum at the 8th Annual Research Celebration on April 16, 2026. Among those receiving some of the highest accolades were faculty of Molecular and Cellular Physiology: Hongxue Shi, PhD; Khalid El Saafien, PhD; and Arif Yurdagul, Jr., PhD.
![Man in lab coat looks at fluid in bottle, standing in a laboratory with worker in the background]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1774384348/lsuhscshreveportedu/jkgzv8kzlwkitiknleam/HongxueShinews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1774384348/lsuhscshreveportedu/jkgzv8kzlwkitiknleam/HongxueShinews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1774384348/lsuhscshreveportedu/jkgzv8kzlwkitiknleam/HongxueShinews.png","width":520}])
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and its more severe form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, are diagnosed more frequently than ever before. Despite its increasing prevalence, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear and treatment strategies are not yet a home run.
