With the award of an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health we are excited to begin a deep dive into understanding precisely how Vitamin A (retinol) is converted to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in the adult mammalian heart and how retinoid metabolism becomes discombobulated in the setting of heart failure (see Research tab). These studies extend our longstanding collaboration with Dr. Maureen Kane (co-PI), of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

It was tough work, but someone had to do it. Brian was invited to present at the 8th International Caparica Conference on Analytical Proteomics in Caparica, Portugal (across the bay from Lisbon), July 18-21, 2022. Specifically, he talked about how the lab has used integrated proteomics (whole proteome and targeted MS quantification) and metabolomics to reveal a role for cardiac ATRA insufficiency in the pathogenesis of HF in both preclinical models and patients. The conference, organized by the indefatigable Jose Luis Capelo (NOVA University of Lisboa), featured an excellent keynote presentation from Christopher Overall (University of British Columbia) and American Journal of Physiology editor, Dr. Merry Lindsey (Meharry College). The program was strong and the venue afforded a beautiful vista of the Atlantic Ocean, two reasons Brian will definitely put the meeting on his calendar for 2024.