As manager of the Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre, I oversee several large genome-wide association studies (GWAS)utilizing Affymetrix 6.0 and Axiom genotyping platforms to identify genes associated with coronary artery disease and hypertension.  I was part of the team that discovered the first somatic mutation in the gap junction protein connexin (GJA5) to cause atrial fibrillation, that discovered the first common genetic variant at chromosome 9p21.3 associated with coronary artery disease risk and characterized its functional properties. We demonstrated that the 9p21.3 risk locus predicts severity of coronary artery disease. We have contributed to several international GWAS consortia for the discovery of lipid traits, hypertension and coronary artery disease.  I am a founding member of the CARDIoGRAM consortium for the discovery of genes contributing to coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction.  We have made use of GWAS risk loci to improve prediction of cardiovascular disease severity. My team also characterized a promoter polymorphism that contributes to the ability to lose weight among obese patients (Teng et al., FASEB Journal, 23(6):1705-914) and discovered a novel transcription factor that controls VEGFA expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle.

Professional Experience

1995-1995 - Post-graduate researcher, molecular biologist, Northern California Institute for Research and Education Inc. (NCIRE), San Francisco, CA 94143.

1995-2004 - Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

1997-2004 - Graduate Faculty, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences Graduate Studies, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

2001-2002 - Project Director, University of Pittsburgh IRB #010747: “Infectious etiology of human tumors”

2001-2004 - Assistant Professor (adjunct), Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh.

2005-present - Principal Investigator, The John and Jennifer Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada, K1Y 4W7.

2005-present - Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa

2005-present - Assistant Professor (adjunct), Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa

2005-present - Member, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa

2006-present - Member, Graduate Collaborative Program in Human and Molecular Genetics, University of Ottawa

2006-present - Director, Affymetrix® Core Laboratory, John & Jennifer Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Honors and Awards

1983     Dean's Honor List, Cum Laude

1983     Ontario/Quebec Neuroscience Exchange student award

1984     Ontario Graduate Scholarship

1990     “Unique” Prize for “Kajiki Maguro”, 4th Midwestern Japanese Speech Contest, Consulate of Japan, Chicago, Illinois

1991-93     Muscular Dystrophy Association Neuromuscular Disease Research Fellowship

1994-95      American Heart Association – California Affiliate, Fellowship

2006     Canada Foundation for Innovation, Leaders Opportunity Fund - Funding for research
               infrastructure, Bioimaging laboratory ($ 113,359)

2006     Ontario Research Fund, Leaders Opportunity Fund - Funding for research infrastructure,
               Bioimaging laboratory ($ 113,359)