Rajendra Tangirala,
PhD.
Assistant Adj., Professor of Medicine
Division
of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Director, Phenotyping Core and Co-Director Inflammation Core
UCLA/UCSD Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center of NIH/NIDDK
24-130
Warren Hall
Los
Angeles, CA 90095-7073
(310)
794-7555
E-mail: rtangirala@mednet.ucla.edu
Dr.Tangirala received his Ph.D. from Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1993, and his postdoctoral training in the Department of Medicine/Endocrinology at University of California, San Diego, CA (1993 -1996). He then joined the Department of Medicine/Cardiology at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA as a Senior Research Fellow and then Junior Faculty (1996-2000). Prior to joining UCLA faculty, Dr.Tangirala was the Group Leader of Pharmacology and Research Scientist at X-Ceptor Therapeutics Inc. in San Diego, CA (2000-2003). In 2000, Dr.Tangirala received the Young Investigator Award for Scientific Excellence from International Atherosclerosis Society in Stockholm, Sweden. Dr.Tangirala is also the Director of Mouse Phenotyping Core and Co-director of the Inflammation Core of the UCLA/UCSD Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center (NIH/NIDDK). Dr.Tangirala is the Fellow of Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Council and a member of the AHA Western Peer Review Committee.
Dr. Tangirala’s research interest is in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and related cardiovascular complications. The major goal of research in his laboratory has been to unravel critical regulatory mechanisms involving nuclear hormone receptors (PPARs, LXRs, and VDR), adiponectin/adiponectin receptors, metabolic and inflammatory risk factors in diabetes, obesity, hypertension and related cardiovascular complications. Using an integrated multidisciplinary approach involving molecular, cellular, biochemical and pharmacological methods, specific hypotheses are being addressed in both in vitro and in vivo models. Approaches to address specific regulatory molecular mechanisms of diabetes and cardiovascular disease include gene transfer/bone marrow transplantation, pharmacological/dietary interventions in transgenic and tissue specific-gene targeted mouse models. These studies seek to systematically define important mechanisms controlling the onset and prevention of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as well as to ultimately identify novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention.