Events & News
– FEBRUARY 2023 –
Upcoming 2023 Vascular Discovery!
What to know more about Vascular diseases? Join us!
https://professional.heart.org/en/meetings/vascular-discovery-from-genes-to-medicine
Upcoming iPVDc Virtual Symposium!
What to know more about infection and inflammation during PAH? Join us!
https://pvrinstitute.org/en/professionals/events/2023/1/25/virtual-symposium-by-the-ipvd-consortium/
1ST ATVB DST EVENT!
Our Twitter event was great! Get ready for the next one!
Read the paper highlighted: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/ATVBAHA.121.317113
– JANUARY 2023 –
We are on the cover!
Dr. Oliveira is one of the 100 women on the cover of Trends in Parasitology in this month’s issue as part of the publication by Herminthology!
American Lung Association News!
ALA highlights our findings published at Pulm. Circ.
Read: https://www.lung.org/research/about-our-research/news/hypoxia-induced-ph-in-mice
JOIN OUR INAUGURAL VSS!
What to know more about infection and inflammation during PAH? Join us!
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TdiQHF-OQDmKG-1cRnNUKw
– DECEMBER 2022 –
Happy holiday season!
We wish that everything you have been dreaming of comes true!
Happy 2023!
Manuscript published @AJRCCM!
Cardiopulmonary Pathogenic Networks: Unveiling the Gut-Lung Microbiome Axis in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
So proud of it!
Manuscript accepted!
More details coming soon
So proud of it!
– NOVEMBER 2022 –
Paper published @ Pulmonary Circulation!
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pul2.12163
Proud and excited about our work!
Paper on PAH accepted for publication!
More details coming soon!
Proud and excited about the upcoming work!
Mari won the UIC Award of Merit!
Congrats Mari!
🎉
Bowling Night!
Great players!
🎳🎳🎳
Vascular Discovery 2023 will be in Boston!
Abstract Submission is open!
https://professional.heart.org/en/meetings/vascular-discovery-from-genes-to-medicine
Dr. Oliveira won 1st place at the #SharkTank at AHA scientific sessions!
🎉
🙂
– OCTOBER 2022 –
Together with this terrific team of investigators, Dr. Oliveira is happy to promote #science communication on SoMe!
https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/atvb
Follow ATVB on Social Media: @atvbahajournals
Dr. Oliveira’s external award recognition at UIC Faculty Award Celebration 2022!
🎉
Omar’s 1st poster presentation & Lizzy’s awarded presentation @UIC_CCVR Research Day!
Congrats, Omar & Lizzy! Keep up the excellent work!
🎉
Invited to the #SharkTank at AHA scientific sessions!
Just breathe!
🙂
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022
1. Practice Routine Self-Exams
2. Know Your Risks and Family History
3. Visit Your Doctor Regularly
🙂
– SEPTEMBER 2022 –
Lizzy’s 1st poster presentation @UIC_GEMS!
Congrats Lizzy! Keep up the excellent work!
🙂
2nd cycle of the Anesthesia Research Series!
Excited to bring research and clinical work together!
🙂
– AUGUST 2022 –
We got the UIC Diversity Career Dev. Award
Excited to contribute to the DEI!
Feeling honored!
Member of ATVB Investigator-in-Training Committee
Excited to be invited to be part of this amazing team!
Details coming soon!
Member of DEI Committee
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are parts of the VI Lab mission. Here, we know that to be fully engaged in a community, one must feel included, valued, sharing a sense of pride, and belonging. That feeling of belonging, that sense of pride that moves you to create, innovate, and propagate knowledge, is a fundamental part of what we want to cultivate and promote inside our Lab, Dept., College, and Institution.
Details coming soon!
One year of VI Lab!
Time flies! We are happy to keep moving forward! 🙂
Abstract Accepted for Short Oral Presentation @ AHA Scientific Sessions!
Session Title: What Is Hot, What Is New Novel Molecular Mechanisms and Potential New Therapeutic Targets in Pulmonary Hypertension
Exciting!
– JULY 2022 –
Our Lab meeting is growing!
It was an exciting discussion to close the week! Lizzy gave an amazing presentation on the paper from Mayer et al. (2020) about how defined Intestinal regions & their specific draining lymph nodes mount distinct Th responses against S. mansoni eggs, and Ali brought a beautiful summary of our 2019 ATVB paper on PAH, which he will present soon as part of his PREP rotation. Finally, together we discussed the relationship between gut-mesenteric inflammation & the development of chronic inflammatory lung disease.
Refs: doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.592325; doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.118.312038; doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.121.316236
Science Communication is a crucial part of the Researcher’s Career!
Scientists communicate their science daily, but are we well prepared to do it? What about doing it virtually? The COVID-19 pandemic brought us a new challenge of finding new effective ways of communicating science in the virtual environment. Moreover, it posed us with the challenge of fighting the dissemination of misleading information, expanding the question: What can we do to improve virtual science communication?
Soon, we will have some insights to share!
Paper accepted for publication!
More details coming soon!
Proud and excited about the upcoming work!
– JUNE 2022 –
Happy pride month!
Love is Love
In pride month, we celebrate diversity in love. We celebrate inclusion and respect.
Here, at the VI Lab, everyone is welcome to help us continuously transform the world into a better place – scientifically, medically, and humanely. Happy pride month!
Life’s Essential 8
Heart News – Sleep well, exercise, do not smoke or drink too much, and eat healthily!
Check the whole checklist for lifelong good health 👇🏼
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8
AHA 3CPR Council!
We have been invited to serve the AHA Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation (3CPR) Council, which integrates basic and clinical research on cardiopulmonary physiology to issues of critical care, emergency cardiovascular care, and CPR.
Want to know more? Follow the link below 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
https://professional.heart.org/en/partners/scientific-councils/3cpr
Infection and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Consortium (iPVDc): Fighting & Raising Awareness on infectious PVD!
Excited to start being part of this amazing journey!
– MAY 2022 –
Our bi-weekly Lab meeting!
Ejehi’s Lab meeting
So proud & happy to share science with these incredibly smart girls!
“The best mentee-mentor relationship is that when both find value in sharing knowledge” – by Dr. Sahoo while receiving the 2022 ATVB Women Leadership Committee Award for Outstanding Mentorship of Women.
Social Media Moderators & Science Communication WorkGroup @ the Assembly Dinner!
2022 Vascular Discovery
Dr. Oliveira, Dr. Alfaidi, and Dr. Zhang (starting from the left) meeting in person after about 8 months of a virtual connection at the 2021 Vascular Discovery! 🥰💪🏼
ATVB Early Career Editorial Board @ Dr. Daugherty’s presentation!
2022 Vascular Discovery
Glad to be part of this amazing group of early-career scientists and to contribute to ATVB excellence!
We got invited to serve as social media moderators!
2022 Vascular Discovery
Unlike the connectivity that an in-person meeting offers, the virtual environment needs to be promoted to efficiently connect scientists. Then, AHA invited early-career investigators to help to engage the scientific community online.
– APRIL 2022 –
We are hiring!
Dr. Oliveira, in the Dept. of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral research associate to conduct research on pathogen-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension in the laboratory of vascular immunobiology. See details at:
https://jobs.sciencecareers.org/job/595248/postdoctoral-research-associate-position/
The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability. Offers of employment by the University of Illinois may be subject to approval by the University’s Board of Trustees and are made contingent upon the candidate’s successful completion of any criminal background checks and other pre-employment assessments that may be required for the position being offered. Additional information regarding such pre-employment checks and assessments may be provided as applicable during the hiring process. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899 University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.
Lizzy’s LASURI scholarship application got awarded!
Congrats, and keep up the hard work!!!
– MARCH 2022 –
We are hiring!
Dr. Oliveira, in the Dept. of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, seeks an hourly Research Assistant (HRA) to conduct research. The HRA will collaborate with Dr. Oliveira and another lab. researchers to design and perform experiments using in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. The HRA will work up to 8 hours per day, for no more than 40 hours per week. The job position will start in April 2022. Please, contact suelleno@uic.edu for more info.
Primary Responsibilities: Design and perform laboratory experiments using cell and molecular biology approaches; test, optimize, and implement both new and existing methods, procedures, and techniques; assist with mouse colony management, mouse genotyping, and in vivo rodent studies; maintain the Laboratory equipment and materials and; develop, write, and maintain comprehensive laboratory protocols and records of results.
Minimum Qualifications: This position requires a Bachelor’s degree or above in biological science (biology, cell biology, pharmacy, biochemistry, or bioengineering preferred) and a minimum of one year of related research experience. Prior experience with animal studies, cell culture, RNA and DNA isolation, PCR, qPCR, and/or flow cytometry is highly desirable.
The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability. Offers of employment by the University of Illinois may be subject to approval by the University’s Board of Trustees and are made contingent upon the candidate’s successful completion of any criminal background checks and other pre-employment assessments that may be required for the position being offered. Additional information regarding such pre-employment checks and assessments may be provided as applicable during the hiring process. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899 University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.
First Lab Social!
Lots of pizza!!!
To welcome the spring 🌷🌹🌻and celebrate our achievements!
We got it again! Challenge done!
14-Day writing challenge
The 14-Day writing challenge is organized by National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity, an online community where you will receive on-demand access to the mentoring, tools, and support you need to be successful. https://www.facultydiversity.org
Paper accepted for publication!
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/ATVBAHA.121.316236
https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.121.316236
Proud and excited!
– FEBRUARY 2022 –
Paper accepted for publication!
Can you imagine the best way to begin the year? More details coming soon!
Proud and excited about the upcoming work!
AHA VD2022, here we go!
Our abstract has been accepted for presentation on AHA Vascular Discovery 2022!
We are super excited to meet our peers and disseminate our findings!
Our first Official Lab Meeting!
By Elizabeth Villarreal
Ejehi has already presented multiple times (and amazingly!), but today we could get our group together for our first official Lab meeting! Lizzy presented a manuscript about senescence and PAH and also discussed her ongoing experiments and her future plans (Lizzy, you rocked!). We had an invited guest working with Dr. Bonini in “inflame-aging” (thanks for joining us, Diego!).
Go Red for Women!
This month AHA promotes awareness about sex-associated heart disease.
“The more a woman knows about heart disease, the better chance she has of beating it. The first facts you need to know are very serious: Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year – more than all cancers combined. Fortunately, we can change that because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action.”
– JANUARY 2022 –
Dr. Oliveira will contribute to the #WomenBehindTheWork initiative!
We have been nominated to give an interview for Herminthology
Herminthology is a social media initiative to promote the work of female scientists working with parasites at all stages of their careers. In doing so, the initiative’s goal is to promote parasitology as an inclusive discipline to young women considering careers in STEM, which hopes to shift the gender balance of women in senior scientific positions.
ATS2022 – Here we go!
Our abstract for the ATS2022 has been accepted!
We are super excited to meet our peers and disseminate our findings!
The COVID-19 pandemic is not over!
COVID-19 infection: what a way to begin the year…
Of course, on the VI Lab new year’s resolutions, COVID-19 was not part of the list! However, it briefly touched some of us, but the vaccines have been crucial for this to be only a “mild touch”. After quarantine and a lot of care, we are back and ready to keep up the research on how to fight current and future pathogen-induced cardiopulmonary diseases!
– DECEMBER 2021 –
Happy Holidays!
Keep up the good work in 2022!
After a period of worldwide sadness, it is good to share research goals and funny stories and teach and learn science along with a great team. VI Lab has no doubt of the scientific power to keep building something amazing, and we are proud of our shared effort and strength to face a world yet so unfair in many ways. But, we are confident that the new year will bring us even more motivation to keep up the good work and continue evolving as researchers and/or future doctors, but more importantly, as human beings. Happy holidays!
Excited to welcome our second Lab Member!
Lizzy Villarreal
Lizzy has joined the Lab of Vascular Immunobiology. She will learn basic lab skills and work closely with the PI to further develop the goals of the PAH project. Welcome, Lizzy!
– NOVEMBER 2021 –
Ejehi will present her exciting data on the COM Res. Forum!
2021 COM Research Forum
UIC College of Medicine will hold a Virtual Research Forum from November 22 to December 5. https://medicine.uic.edu/research/college-of-medicine-research-forum/
– OCTOBER 2021 –
We got it! Challenge done!
14-Day writing challenge
The 14-Day writing challenge is organized by National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity, an online community where you will receive on-demand access to the mentoring, tools, and support you need to be successful. https://www.facultydiversity.org
Dr. Oliveira was invited to give an interview!
Hispanic/LatinX Heritage Month
Dr. Oliveira has been invited by the Diversity Committee of the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) to give an interview about her career trajectory and the challenges that the LatinX community face in the scientific field. Read the interview at: https://www.faseb.org/About-FASEB/Diversity-Equity-and-Inclusion/Suellen-DArc-Oliveira-Becoming-the-Mentor-I-Hope-to-Be
– SEPTEMBER 2021 –
We got invited to serve as social ambassadors!
Social Ambassador at 2021 Vascular Discovery
Unlike the connectivity that an in-person meeting offers, the virtual environment needs to be promoted to efficiently connect scientists. Then, AHA invited early-career investigators to help to engage the scientific community online. I have to say that, besides helping me to be fully immersed in the meeting, this experience brought some new friends into my scientific network!
Ejehi got an Honorable Mention!
UIC CCVR Research Day
The Lab is excited to share that Ejehi got an honorable mention in her first research presentation at the Research Day organized by the Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCVR) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Ejehi’s presentation was outstanding and the first of many to come! Congrats, Ejehi & keep rocking in science and medicine!
– AUGUST 2021 –
We’ve got Funding Support!
Generation of Endothelial Cell Memory in Inflammatory Vascular Disease (K01HL159037-01)
During PAH, endothelial cells (ECs) that survive chronic lung injury show reduced expression of the anti-proliferative protein Cav-1 and elevated response to pro-fibrotic TGF-β signaling. Although it is clear how Cav-1-depleted ECs contribute to PAH, our ongoing research indicates that c-IAP2 may participate in this process. In line with this observation, our data suggest that S. mansoni-primed ECs retain in vitro a memory of the in vivo infection, contributing to the chronicity of Schistosomiasis, which may also lead to the development of PAH.
Excited to welcome our first Lab Member!
Ejehi Erewele, MD Student
After a summer internship, Ejehi joined the Lab of Vascular Immunobiology. She is officially the first student in the Lab with an incredible background and interest in developing her skills in basic and translational research. She has started investigating the role of BMPR2 during the development of PAH. Welcome, Ejehi!
The Lab was founded!
Laboratory of Vascular Immunobiology
An exciting journey has just begun!
Vascular Immunobiology Lab - You belong here! 