Sumita Mishra, PhD
- Assistant Professor, Center for Exercise Medicine Research
- Assistant Professor, Center for Vascular and Heart Research
- Focus area(s): Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; Interorgan cross-talk, Cardiometabolic links; focuses on mitochondrial, cGMP-protein kinase G signaling
R2209
Roanoke, VA 24015
- Graduate Program Track(s): Molecular & Cellular Science; Clinical Physiology & Metabolism
Education
Ph.D., Molecular Cardiology, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology
MS, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Calcutta University
BS, Microbiology (Hons), Calcutta University
Experience
2023 – present: Assistant Professor, Center for Exercise Medicine Research and Center for Vascular and Heart Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Assistant Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
2021 – 2023: Instructor, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
2018-2021: Research Associate, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
2012 – 2018: Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
2011: Visiting Fellow, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea.
2006 – 2010: Senior Research fellow, Counsel for Scientific and Industrial Research, India
2004- 2006: Junior Research fellow, Counsel for Scientific and Industrial Research, India
2003: Indian Academy of Science Fellow, Indian Institute of Science
Editorial Board Activities
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, BMC Molecular Biology, Disease and Molecular Medicine, International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases and Diagnosis, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, Indian Heart Journal, Oxidants and Antioxidants in Medical Science, International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, Aging Metabolism and Redox Biology.
Reviewer Activites
Circulation Research, American Chemical Society, Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, Oxidants and Antioxidants in Medical Science, Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, Atherosclerosis, International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health, Glycobiology, International Journal of Nanomedicine, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, Disease and Molecular Medicine, International Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Society of Glycobiology meeting at NIH, Essentials of Glycobiology 3rd Edition, Rawal Medical Journal, Aging, Metabolism and Redox Biology, Frontiers, AHA postdoctoral fellowship (2022), AHA Transformational Project Award (2023).
Selected Major Awards
- 2021 — AHA Career Development Award
- 2020 — W. Leigh Thompson Excellence in Research Award, Basic Science
- 2019 — AHA Basic Cardiovascular Science Scientific Sessions, Honorable Mention Award
- 2018 — Stanley Blumenthal award for Best research in Basic science, Institute of Cardiac Science, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- 2018 — Best Presentation- Cyclic Nucleotide PDEs, Gordon Research Conference
- 2017 — AHA SFRN, Post-Doctoral Grant
- 2017 — NIH Post-Doctoral Grant
- 2017 — Future Glycogen leader - Led Johns Hopkins in the Society of Glycobiology meeting at NIH
- 2004-2011 — University Grant Commission, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship, Government of India
- 2007 — Awarded PhD Deputation, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea
Program Focus
The prevalence of cardiovascular pathologies, especially Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), is increasing, currently affecting an estimated 18 million adults and projected to rise by 46% by 2030. This trend is particularly alarming in postmenopausal women, highlighting a distinct sex-related dimension in HFpEF epidemiology. Obesity emerges as a critical risk factor, disrupting not only intracellular signaling mechanisms but also influencing inter-organ cross-talk through pathways controlled by cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent Protein Kinase G (PKG).
In our laboratory, the focus is on delineating the aberrations in cGMP-PKG signaling pathways within the context of cardiometabolic diseases and HFpEF. We are exploring the modulation of these pathways by specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs), particularly the roles of PDE5 and PDE9. Preliminary data suggest that inhibition of PDE9A might offer therapeutic potential, potentially rectifying cardiometabolic imbalances by modifying metabolic and mitochondrial dynamics. Our research extends to understanding the subcellular domains affected by these PDEs, particularly their influence on the mitochondrial signalosome, metabolic flux, epigenetic modifications, and the critical aspect of inter-organ communication.
In 2022, both the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology endorsed exercise and lifestyle modifications for heart failure patients, particularly those with cardiometabolic syndrome. Our objective is to pioneer novel therapeutic strategies for cardiometabolic disorders by harnessing a comprehensive understanding that spans from molecular mechanisms to system-wide physiological interactions.
Selected Recent Publications
- Mishra, S., et al. "Transient Receptor Potential Canonical Type 6 (TRPC6) O-GlcNAcylation at Threonine-221 Plays Potent Role in Channel Regulation." iScience. Feb 2, 2023. Link
- Hahn, V., Mishra, S., et al. "Myocardial Metabolomics of Human Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction." CIRCULATIONAHA. In-press 2022. Link
- Dunkerly-Eyring, B. L., Mishra, S., et al. "Single serine on TSC2 exerts biased control over mTORC1 activation mediated by ERK1/2 but not Akt." Life Science Alliance. 14 March 2022. Link
- Mishra, S., et al. "Cellular and molecular pathobiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction." Nat Rev Cardiol 18, 400–423 (2021). Link
- Mishra, S., et al. "PDE9 Inhibition Activates PPARa to Stimulate Mitochondrial Fat Metabolism and Reduce Cardiometabolic Syndrome." J Clin Invest. 2021 Nov 1;131(21). DOI: 10.1172/JCI148798. Link
Selected Recent Oral Presentations
- 2022, Mishra, S. Female Sex Hormones: cGMP-PKG modulation of Cardiometabolic disease. ACS-BCVS.
- 2021, Mishra, S. Therapeutic effect of PDE9 inhibition on cardiometabolic profile in a preclinical model of HFpEF. Cardiac Muscle society Annual conference.
- 2021, Mishra, S. OGlcNACylation is an essential PTM of TRPC6. AHA- BCVS.
- 2019, Mishra, S. Sexual dimorphism in cardiometabolic disease. AHA research leadership Academy, AHA Go Red for Women, Annual conference, Baltimore.
- 2018, Mishra, S. Therapeutic effects of PDE9 inhibition on cardiac function and metabolic profile in combined cardiac and metabolic disease model. MAGEE Summit, Pittsburgh.