Paola C. Rosas
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About
Overview:
My research aims to study the pathways that lead to heart failure due to stressors such as aging, obesity, and diabetes with special focus on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). I also investigate the underlying mechanisms of sex differences in the incidence of heart failure. Methods include echocardiography, intra-cardiac pressure-volume measurements, simultaneous force and intracellular calcium measurements on intact papillary muscles, biochemistry techniques, phosphorylation techniques, and molecular biology techniques.
Research Interests:
Ongoing projects aim to elucidate the mechanisms of crosstalk between estrogens and P21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) and determine the role of PAK1 in the regulation of cardiac function and adipose tissue homeostasis.
Teaching and Supervision
Spec Project in Pharm Pract (PMPR 42363), 1/12/2026 – 5/1/2026
Undergrad Resrch Pharm Pract (PMPR 28890), 1/12/2026 – 5/1/2026
Applied Research Methods (PMPR 45457), 1/12/2026 – 5/1/2026
Undergrad Res Exp Pharm Pract (PMPR 46948), 1/12/2026 – 5/1/2026
Undergrad Res Exp Pharm Pract (PMPR 300), 8/25/2025 – 12/5/2025
Spanish for Pharmacists PMPR 337 (PMPR 337), 8/25/2025 – 12/12/2025
Integrated Physiology (PHAR 410), 8/25/2025 – 12/5/2025
Integrated Physiology (PHAR 410), 8/25/2025 – 12/5/2025
Undergrad Resrch Pharm Pract (PMPR 380), 8/25/2025 – 12/5/2025
Selected Grants
Exploring the microbiome of native Peruvians to understand dietary influence on cardiovascular health, American Heart Association., 4/1/2024 - 3/31/2025, Obligated Amount: $10000; Anticipated Amount: $10000
The impact of Short-chain Fatty Acids on Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications., University of Illinois, College of Pharmacy, Vahlteich Research Award., 3/1/2024 - Present, Obligated Amount: $50000; No Anticipated Amount Set
The impact of short-chain fatty acids on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: mechanisms and therapeutic implications, Vahlteich College of Pharmacy., 3/1/2024 - Present, Obligated Amount: $50000; No Anticipated Amount Set
UICHeart: University of Illinois Undergraduate Mentoring and Experience in Heart Research, American Heart Association., 1/1/2024 - 12/31/2026, Obligated Amount: $164998; Anticipated Amount: $164998
Engaging undergraduate Students in Cardiology Research Training (ESCoRT) Program, American Heart Association., 12/30/2022 - 12/31/2022, Obligated Amount: $164471; No Anticipated Amount Set
Targeting P21-activated kinase-1 to restore cardiometabolic health, UIC College of Pharmacy: Vahlteich., 11/16/2022 - 12/16/2022, Obligated Amount: $50000; No Anticipated Amount Set
P21-activated kinase 1 is a novel regulator of cardiac and adipose tissue function in females, National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)., 8/16/2021 - 7/31/2026, Obligated Amount: $864000; Anticipated Amount: $864000
P21-Activated Kinase-1 as a Novel Regulator of Cardiac Function in Female Mice, American Heart Association., 7/1/2021 - 6/30/2024, Obligated Amount: $231000; Anticipated Amount: $231000
P21-activated Kinase as a Novel Regulator of Adiposity and Cardiac Function in Females, University of California - San Diego., 2/8/2019 - 7/31/2020, Obligated Amount: $10800; Anticipated Amount: $10800
Selected Publications
Rosas, Paola, Anbazhagan, Arivarasu, Neves, Liomar, Kulkarni, Neelkanth, Sepulveda, Marisa, Gardner, Jadyn, Dudeja, Pradeep. (2026). Loss of Tight Junction Integrity Drives Increased Intestinal Permeability in Experimental HFpEF. Physiology, 41, (S1), 2294554. doi:10.1152/physiol.2026.41.s1.2294554.
Rosas, Paola C, Neves, Liomar. (2026). 26-A-18331-ACC DIETARY FERMENTABLE FIBER IMPROVES CARDIOMETABOLIC PHENOTYPE IN A PRECLINICAL MODEL OF HFPEF. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 87, (13), a530-a531. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2026.02.1436.
Metwally, Elsayed, Mirza, Imaduddin, Morsy, Mohammed H, Mostafa, Sarah M, Bianco, Francesco M, Hassan, Chandra, Masrur, Mario A, Rosas, Paola C, Levitan, Irena, Raj, J Usha, Layden, Brian T, Mahmoud, Abeer M. (2025). Obesity‐Associated Adiposomes Promote Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Hypercontractility. Comprehensive Physiology, 15, (5), e70053. doi:10.1002/cph4.70053.
Rosas, Paola C, Neves, Liomar AA, Bonilla, Karina, Gardner, Jadyn, Linares, George. (2025). Gut-Heart Axis Dysfunction Drives Systemic Inflammation in a Murine HFpEF Model. Physiology, 40, (S1), 0119. doi:10.1152/physiol.2025.40.s1.0119.
Rosas, Paola C, Neves, Liomar, Oderman, Kiersten, Bonilla, Karina, Malczewski, Natalie, Hampton-Marcell, Jarrad. (2025). ESTROGEN DEPLETION RESULTED IN INCREASED CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY, ADIPOSITY AND CHANGES IN THE GUT MICROBIOME COMPOSITION IN A MURINE MODEL OF HFPEF. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 85, (12), 1362. doi:10.1016/s0735-1097(25)01846-7.
Rosas, Paola C, Solaro, R John. (2025). p21‐Activated Kinase 1 (Pak1) as an Element in Functional and Dysfunctional Interplay Among the Myocardium, Adipose Tissue, and Pancreatic Beta Cells. Comprehensive Physiology, 15, (2), e70006. doi:10.1002/cph4.70006.
Munoz, Marcos, Solis, Christopher, McCann, Maximilian, Park, Jooman, Rafael-Clyke, Koreena, Chowdhury, Shamim AK, Jiang, Yuwei, Rosas, Paola C. (2025). P21-activated kinase-1 signaling is required to preserve adipose tissue homeostasis and cardiac function. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 480, (1), 249-263. doi:10.1007/s11010-024-04968-4.
Rosas, Paola C, Neves, Liomar AA, Patel, Nisha, Tran, Duyen, Pereira, Carlos H, Bonilla, Karina R, Zheng, Jingjing, Sun, Jun, Alvarado, Francisco J, Banach, Kathrin. (2024). Early pathological mechanisms in a mouse model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 327, (6), h1524-h1543. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00318.2024.
Tran, Duyen, Neves, Liomar, Bonilla, Karina, Chowdhury, Shamim, Malczewski, Natalie, Rosas, Paola. (2024). Abstract Tu039: Intestinal atrophy contributes to low-grade inflammation, cardiac dysfunction and metabolic syndrome-like phenotype in a model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.. Circulation Research, 135, (Suppl_1), atu039-atu039. doi:10.1161/res.135.suppl_1.tu039.
Education
Degrees:
MD, Universidad Nacional de San Agustin, Peru
Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Universidad Catolica Santa Maria, Peru
PhD, Texas A&M University, United States