curriculum vitae - Stanford Medicine

CURRICULUM VITAE
Name:
Nesrine El-Bizri
Degree:
Ph. D.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Academic Position:
Post-doctoral Fellow
Department/School:
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Cardiology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Office Address:
Cardiopulmonary Research Laboratory
269 Campus Drive, CCSR Suite 2245b
Palo Alto, California, 94305-5162
USA
Telephone: Department: (650) 723-8239
Laboratory: (650) 723-5737
Fax: Department: (650) 723-6700
E-mail: [email protected]
Citizenship:
Lebanese with a Canadian Permanent Residency.
Languages (Spoken and Written): English, French, and Arabic.
DEGREES AND DIPLOMAS
Degree
Department/Faculty
Institution
Year Obtained
Ph.D.
Anatomy and Cell Biology
in Cell Biology Faculty of Medicine
University of Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
M.Sc.
in Physiology
Physiology
Faculty of Medicine
American University of Beirut October 1992
Beirut, Lebanon
B.S.
in Biology
Biology
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
April 1990
Free Auditor
Pharmocology and Toxicology
Faculty of Medicine
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
1992/93
& 1993/94
Baccalauréat
Scientifique II
August 2001
École Saint Joseph de l’Apparition
Sidon, Lebanon
1986
HONOURS AND AWARDS
April 1990
Sep. 1996- Sep. 2000
Nov. 2001
Dean’s Honor List
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Exemption from higher tuition fees required
from international students
Quebec Ministry of Education in coordination with the
Lebanese General Consulate in Montreal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Recipient of the first prize Evelyn MacGloin Award
offered for post-doctoral fellows who received the HSFO
fellowship (2001)
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
Toronto, Canada
*Declined to accept the American Heart Association
(Pulmonary Hypertension Association) Award Fellowship
RESEARCH SALARY AND STUDENTSHIP
Sep. 1996- Feb. 2001
November 1996
October 1987-June1992
Research Trainee Salary
University of Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Institutional Studentship
University of Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Hariri Foundation Studentship
Hariri Foundation
Beirut, Lebanon
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP
Sep 2001-Sep2003
Sep 2001-Sep2003
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
(Declined)
American Heart Association
(Pulmonary Hypertension Association)
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETES
Club de Recherche Clinique du Québec
Réseau Endothélium du FRSQ
International Society for Heart Research
American Thoracic Society
American Heart Association
EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENT
January 1993-June 1996
Research Assistant
Helping in the set-up and supervision of General
Pharmacology course Laboratory given to Medical II Students
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Faculty of Medicine
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
October 1991-June 1992
Teaching Assistant
Teaching General Biology course Laboratory
offered to Sophomore biology students
Department of Biology
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sep. 2001- Sep. 2002
Post-doctoral Fellow
Supervisor: Dr Marlene Rabinovitch
Division of Cardiovascular Research
Research Institute
Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sep. 2002- To Date
Post-doctoral Fellow
Supervisor: Dr Marlene Rabinovitch
Department of Pediatric Cardiology
Faculty of Medicine
Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, USA
Projects:
1- Mts-1 and the pathobiology of pulmonary vascular disease.
2- The endogenous vascular elastase and the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension.
3- BMP type II receptor and the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension.
4- Fibronectin mediated nuclear expression of AML-1B is associated with smooth muscle
cell de-differentiation and proliferation.
Research supervision of undergraduate project students:
-Ciura S. (2002) BMP type II receptor and the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension.
-Jeremic G. (2002) Mts-1 and the pathobiology of pulmonary vascular disease.
-Fan, M. (Summer 2003) The role of bone morphogenetic protein II in vascular cells
differentiation.
-Nguyen, K. (Summer 2004) The role of bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA in
pulmonary hypertension.
-Anne Zhuang (2004/2005). The Role of bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA in pericyte
differentiation.
Sep. 1996-Feb. 2001
Research Trainee
Supervisor: Dr Ghassan Bkaily
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
Faculty of Medicine
University of Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Ph.D. Thesis Project: Modulation of intracellular Ca2+ by α1-adrenergic, angiotensin II, and
bradykinin receptors in heart cells.
Other Projects: Modulation of intracellular calcium by channels and receptors in resting and
working heart cells.
January 1993-June 1996
Research Assistant
Supervisor: Dr Joseph Simaan
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Faculty of Medicine
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Projects:
-Involvement of nitric oxide synthesis in the mechanism of action of acetylcholine,
histamine, and adenosine in the cat leg and mesenteric perfusion techniques (Spring 1995).
-Influence of a variety of drugs on the cardiodynamic and electrophysiological behavior of
cardiac glycosides in the cat heart-lung preparation (Spring 1993 - Fall & Spring 1994 Fall 1995).
-Effect of cocaine on adrenergic responses in the cat intact preparation (Fall 1995).
-Biochemical assay of cardiac Na+-K+-ATPase activity by the spectrophotometric
monitoring of NADH oxidation (Fall 1993).
Helping in research supervision of M.Sc. graduate students:
-Ziadeh, B. Involvement of nitric oxide synthesis in the mechanism of action of imipramine
and acetylcholine in the cat leg perfusion technique. M.Sc. Thesis, American University of
Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (1996).
-Rammal, M. Studies on imipramine in the cat heart-lung preparation and its interaction
with ouabain. M.Sc. Thesis, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (1995).
-Abdul-Rahim, O. The influence of infusions of a varirty of sympathomimetic amines on the
cardiodynamic and electrophysiological behavior of ouabain in the cat heart-lung
preparation . M.Sc. Thesis, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (1994).
October 1991-June 1992
M.Sc. Student
Department of Physiology
Faculty of Medicine
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
M.Sc. Thesis Project: Effect of amiloride, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, and ouabain on
chloride retention in perfused kidneys of normal and diabetic rats.
October 1991-June 1992
Teaching Assistant
General Biology Laboratory
offered to Sophomore biology students
Department of Biology
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
-
Molecular techniques: Cre/LoxP system to create transgenic mice, Cloning, PCR, RTPCR, Western blotting, Southern blotting, Liposomal and retroviral tranfection of
primary cells.
Physiological measurements techniques: Right ventricular systolic pressure and mean
arterial pressure measurements, Pressure-volume loops technique performed on mice.
Histological techniques: Assessment of morphological parameters in pulmonary
vessels of mice.
Immunohistochemistry
MicroCT of barium infused lungs in mice.
-
Electrophysiology
Cell Culture: Isolation and culture of human fetal and chick embryonic heart cells as
well as human fetal, sheep fetal , and Spague-Dawley rat pulmonary artery smooth
muscle cells.
Excitation-Contraction Coupling in heart cells.
Spontaneous Contraction of heart cells
Ca2+ Channels
Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp: Studies on ionic currents: K+, L and T-type Ca2+ currents.
Confocal Laser Microscopy: Studies conducted on isolated resting and spontaneously
working heart cells.
Ca2+ Measurements and Imaging
Fluorescence Ionic Measurements
Heart-Lung Preparation: Studies performed on cats.
Leg, Mesenteric, and Renal Perfusions: Studies performed on rats and cats.
Blood Pressure Monitoring: Studies performed on rats and cats.
Biochemical Assays: Activity of the cardiac Na+-K+-ATPase.
PUBLICATIONS
Ph.D. Thesis:
El-Bizri, N. (2001). Modulation de l’activité calcique cardiaque par les récepteurs
_1-adrenergiques, les récepteurs à l’angiotensine II, et les récepteurs à la bradykinine.
(University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada).
M.Sc. Thesis:
El-Bizri, N. (1992). Effect of amiloride, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, and ouabain on
chloride retention in perfused kidneys of normal and diabetic rats. (American
University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon)
PEER REVIEWED PAPERS
1- Bkaily, G., El-Bizri, N, Nader, M., Hazzouri, K.M., Riopel, J., Jacques, D., Regoli, D.,
D’Orléans-Juste, P., Gobeil, F. Jr., and Avedanian, L. (2005). Angiotensin II induced
increase in frequency of cytosolic and nuclear calcium waves of heart cells via activation of
AT(1) and AT(2) receptors. Peptides 26(8):1418-26.
2- El-Bizri, N, Bkaily, G., Wang, S., Jacques, D., Regoli, D., D’Orléans-Juste, P., and
Sukarieh, R. (2003). Bradykinin induced a positive chronotropic effect via stimulation of Tand L-type calcium currents in heart cells. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 81: 247-258.
3- Bkaily, G., El-Bizri, N., Bui, M., Sukarieh, R., Jacques, D., and Fu, M.L.X. (2003).
Modulation of intracellular Ca2+ via L-type calcium channels in heart cells by the
autoantibody directed against the second extracellular loop of the α1-adrenoceptors. Can. J.
Physiol. Pharmacol. 81: 234-246.
4- Bkaily, G., Choufani, S., Hassan, G., El-Bizri, N., and D’Orléans-Juste, P. (2000).
Presence of functional ET-1 receptors in nuclear membranes of human aortic vascular
smooth muscle cells. J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 36 (Suppl. 1): S414-S417.
5- Sabra, R., Khoury, H.A., Bechara, G., Sharaf , L.H., and El-Bizri, N. (2000). Postjunctional mechanisms involved in the potentiation of cardiac adrenergic responses by
cocaine. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 97: 139-150.
6- Jacques, D., Sader, S., El-Bizri, N., Choufani, S., Hassan, G., and Shbaklo, H. (2000).
Neuropeptide Y-induced increase of cytosolic and nuclear Ca2+ in heart and vascular
smooth muscle cells. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 78 (2):162-172.
SUBMITTED PAPERS
Bkaily, G., El-Bizri, N., and Wang, S. (2002). Modulation of Ca 2+ homeostasis by Ang II
in heart cells. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. (Submitted).
ABSTRACTS
1-El-Bizri, N., Wang, L., Merklinger, S.L., Desai, K., Rountree, R., Mishina, Y., and
Rabinovitch,M. (May 2005). Impaired Vascular and Cardiac Contractility in Transgenic
Mice with Targeted Deletion of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein Type IA Receptor (BMPRIA). Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society: A709. Poster presentation in
American Thoracic Society 2005, 101st International Conference. San Diego, USA.
2-El-Bizri, N., Wang, L., Merklinger, S., Desai, K., Rountree, R., Mishina, Y., and
Rabinovitch, M. (Nov 2004). Transgenic mice with arterial smooth muscle cell-specific
conditional deletion of the bone morphogenetic protein type IA receptor (BMPRIA/ALK3)
are hypo-responsive to hypoxia. Oral presentation in American Heart Association
Scientific Sessions 2004. New Orleans, USA.
3- Spiekerkoetter, E., S. Merklinger, N. El-Bizri, N. Ambartsumian, M.A. Matthay, and M.
Rabinovitch. (April 2004). In S100A4/Mts1 overexpressing mice that are prone to develop
pulmonary hypertension an inflammatory stimulus with bleomycin alone fails to trigger
pulmonary hypertension. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
169(7):A400.
4- Massaeli, H., and Rabinovitch, M. Presented by N. El-Bizri. (2002). Transforming
growth factor beta-1 upregulates expression and activity of a novel rat vascular smooth
muscle chymase (RVCH) gene. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2002.
Chicago, USA.
5- El-Bizri, N., and Bkaily, G. (July 2001). Angiotensin II induces a positive chronotropic
effect in heart cells. International Society for Heart Research: Montreal Satellite
Symposium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
6- El-Bizri, N., Massaad, D., and Bkaily, G. (September 2000). Modulation du calcium
cytosolique et nucléaire lors de la contraction spontanée des cellules cardiaques par
l’angiotensine II. 42ième réunion du Club de Recherche Clinique du Québec, Med. Sci.16
(Suppl 2): p.13. Bromont, Quebec, Canada.
7- Sleiman, S., Hassan, G., El-Bizri, N., Choufani, S., and Bkaily, G. (September 2000).
Présence des récepteurs à l’angiotensine II dans l’enveloppe nucléaire des cellules
cardiaques et du muscle lisse vasculaire. 42ième réunion du Club de Recherche Clinique du
Québec, Med. Sci.16 (Suppl 2): p.19. Bromont, Quebec, Canada.
8- El-Bizri, N., Jacques, D., and Bkaily, G. (April 2000). Surcharge sodique et calcique
dans les cellules cardiaques du hamster cardiomyopathique. 68ième Congrès de l’ACFAS,
Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, p.37.
9- El-Bizri, N., Jacques, D., and Bkaily, G. (April 2000). Présence d’un courant lent
sodique de type embryonnaire dans la cardiomyopathie héréditaire du hamster. 68ième
Congrès de l’ACFAS, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, p.37.
10- Shbaklo, H., El-Bizri, N., Hassan, G., Choufani, S., Sader, S., Sleiman, S., Bkaily, G.,
and D’Orléans-Juste, P. (March 2000). Role of PKG in nitric oxide-induced, calciumindependent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Fifth MiniSymposium of FRSQ
Network: Endothelium and its Related Vascular Diseases, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
11- Hassan, G., Choufani, S., El-Bizri, N., Sader, S., Sleiman, S., Shbaklo, H., D’OrléansJuste, P., and Bkaily, G. (March 2000). Presence of gap junctions between human vascular
endothelium and smooth muscle cells. Fifth MiniSymposium of FRSQ Network:
Endothelium and its Related Vascular Diseases, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
12- El-Bizri, N., Bui, M., Fu, M. and Bkaily, G. (January 2000). Régulation des canaux
calciques cardiaques de type–L par l’anticorps dirigé contre les récepteurs α 1 adrénergiques. Journée de la Recherche de l’Université de Sherbrooke, University of
Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
13- Massaad, D., El-Bizri, N., Choufani, S., Hassan, G., Simaan, M., and Bkaily, G.
(January 2000). Modulation du calcium nucléaire par l’ET-1 et le PAF dans les cellules
cardiaques. Journée de la Recherche de l’Université de Sherbrooke, University of
Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
14- Sader, S., El-Bizri, N., Choufani, S., Hassan, G., Truffer, E., and Jacques, D. (January
2000). Le neuropeptide Y (NPY) module l’activité des cellules cardiaques et
vasculaires humaines. Journée de la Recherche de l’Université de Sherbrooke, University
of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
15- Choufani, S., Hassan, G., El-Bizri, N., Sleiman, S., D’Orléans-Juste, P., and Bkaily, G.
(January 2000). Présence des récepteurs fonctionnels à L’ET-1 dans les membranes
nucléaires des cellules aortiques humaines. Journée de la Recherche de l’Université de
Sherbrooke, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
16- Choufani, S., Hassan, G., El-Bizri, N., Sleiman, S., D’Orléans-Juste, P., and Bkaily, G.
(October 1999). Presence of functional ET-1 receptors in nuclear membranes of human
aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Sixth International Conference on Endothelin,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
17- Jacques, D., Sader, S., Charest, D., Choufani, S., El-Bizri, N., Bkaily, G., and
D’Orléans-Juste, P. (1999). Modulation of cytosolic and nuclear Ca2+ by neuropeptide Y
(NPY) in heart and vascular smooth muscle cells. Fifth International NPY Meeting, p.29.
18- El-Bizri, N., Bui, M., Fu, M. and Bkaily, G. (May 1998). Regulation of L-type Ca2+
channels by the antibody against cardiac α1-adrenergic receptors. XVI World Congress of
the International Society for Heart Research,Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine into
the 21st Century, J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 30: p.210. Rhodes, Ixia, Greece.
19- Bui, M, El-Bizri, N., and Bkaily, G. (October 1997). Régulation
des canaux
calciques cardiaques de type –L par l’anticorps dirigé contre la deuxième boucle du
récepteur α1-adrénergique cardiaque. 39ième réunion du Club de Recherche Clinique du
Québec, Med. Sci.13 (Suppl 2): p.13. Trois Rivière, Quebec, Canada.
20- Bikhazi, A.B., Salameh, A.S., and El-Bizri, N.. (1996). Effect of amiloride, ethacrynic
acid, furosemide, and ouabain on chloride retention in perfused kidneys of normal and
diabetic rats. Résumés Scientifiques Libanais (vol II): 331.
21- Sabra, R., Dabaghi, M., El-Bizri, N., and Sharaf, L.H. (1996). Potentiation by cocaine
of adrenergic responses: possible role for beta-adrenoceptor sensitization. Résumés
Scientifiques Libanais (vol II): 333.
ORAL PRESENTATION
1-El-Bizri, N.. Transgenic mice with arterial smooth muscle cell-specific conditional
deletion of the bone morphogenetic protein type IA receptor (BMPRIA/ALK3) have
reduced pulmonary vascular disease. Stanford University Cardiovascular Institute Open
MIC April 2005. Stanford University, California, USA.
2-El-Bizri, N.. Transgenic mice with arterial smooth muscle cell-specific conditional
deletion of the bone morphogenetic protein type IA receptor (BMPRIA/ALK3) are hyporesponsive to hypoxia. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2004. New
Orleans, USA.
3-El-Bizri, N.. Impaired vascular cardiac myocyte contractility in the Bmpr1a targeted
knockout mouse. Stanford University Developmental Biology Retreat 2004. Monterrey,
California, USA.
4-El-Bizri, N.. and Rabinovitch M. BMP-RII, a gene critically important in development is
implicated in Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Stanford University Developmental
Biology Retreat 2003. California, USA.
5-El-Bizri N. (July 2001). Bradykinin induces a positive chronotropic effect in heart cells.
International Society for Heart Research: Montreal Satellite Symposium, Montreal,
Quebec, Canada.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Representative of Ph.D. graduate students in the Department of Anatomy and Cell
Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
(1999- 2001).
Representative of the ‘Regroupement des Étudiants Chercheurs en Médecine de
l’Université de Sherbrooke (RECMUS)’ in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (1999- 2001).
Vice-President of the committee ‘Prix du RECMUS’, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (Academic year 1999/2000).