Sai Sudha Koka

Education and Training

• Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Post-doctoral fellowship, 2013
• Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Germany, PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2008
• Andhra University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, India, Master of Science in Pharmacy – Pharmacology Specialization, 2005
• Andhra University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, India, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, 2002

Professional Certifications

• Professional Licensure - Registered Pharmacist in Texas and Virginia

Research Interests

• Endothelial and vascular cell signaling
• Gut microbial metabolites in Inflammation and atherosclerosis
• Aging and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity
• Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology

Teaching Interests

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology and physiology
• Principles of Drug Action
• Endocrinology and metabolic diseases

Awards, Recognition and Service

• Teaching Excellence Award for group teaching, University of Houston
• Sudhir Gupta Young Scientist Award
• American Radiolabeled Chemicals Junior Scientist Award
• Best Science Award, Scientific Sessions, American Heart Association
• Donna Garff Marriott Research Award, Women’s board of American Heart Association
• Young investigator Travel Award, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Winnipeg, Canada
• Virginia Commonwealth University Postdoctoral Association Travel Award
• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship
• AHA Grant Reviewer for Innovative Project Award, Career Development Award and Transformational Project Award
• NIH Grant Reviewer, NHLBI Mentored Transition to Independence Study section and Myocardial Ischemia and Metabolism Study section
• International Scholar member, Task Force on Comprehensive Internationalization, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Council Member and Awards Committee Member, Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America
• Guest Editor, Mediators of Inflammation, Hindawi Publishers
• Reviewer for scientific journals including AJP, JMCC, Nature Scientific Reports, JAHA, Cell Physiol Biochem, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Experimental Cell Research, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Journal of Diabetes Research

Representative Publications

1. Zhang Y, Wang YT, Koka S, Zhang Y, Hussain T and Li X. Simvastatin improves lysosome function via enhancing lysosome biogenesis in endothelial cells. Front Biosci (landmark Ed). 25:283-298, 2020.
2. Koka S, Xi L and Kukreja RC. Chronic inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 with tadalafil affords cardioprotection in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome: Role of Nitric Oxide. Mol Cell Biochem. 468(1-2):47-58, 2020.
3. Singh GB, Zhang Y, Boini KM and Koka S. High Mobility Group Box 1 Mediates TMAO-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci. Pii E3570, 2019.
4. Koka S, Xia M, Li PL and Boini KM. Podocyte NLRP3 inflammasome activation and formation by adipokine Visfatin. Cell Physiol Biochem. 53: 355-365, 2019.
5. Koka S, Xia M, Chen Y, Bhat OM, Yuan X, Boini KM and Li PL. Endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome activation and arterial neointima formation associated with acid sphingomyelinase during hypercholesterolemia. Redox Biol. 13:336-344, 2017.
6. Boini KM, Hussain T, Li PL and Koka S. Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Instigates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Endothelial Dysfunction. Cell Physiol Biochem. 44: 152-162, 2017.
7. Boini KM, Koka S, Xia M, Gehr TB, Ritter JK and Li PL. Sphingolipids in Obesity and its Complications. Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark edition). 22: 96-116, 2017.
8. Boini KM, Koka S, Xia M, Gehr TW, Li PL. Instigation of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Glomerular Injury in Mice on the High Fat Diet: Role of Acid Sphingomyelinase Gene. Oncotarget, 7 (14): 19031-19044, 2016
9. Koka S, Aluri HS, Xi L, Lesnefsky EJ, Kukreja RC. Chronic inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 with tadalafil attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic hearts: potential role of NO/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 306(11):H1558-68, 2014.
10. Das A, Durrant D, Koka S, Salloumn FN, Xi L, Kukreja RC. mTOR Inhibition with Rapamycin Improves Cardiac Function in Type 2 Diabetic Mice: Potential Role of Attenuated Oxidative Stress and Altered Contractile Protein Expression. J Biol Chem. 289(7):4145-60,
11. Koka S, Das A, Salloumn F, Kukreja RC. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor tadalafil attenuates oxidative stress and protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in Type 2 diabetic mice. Free Radic Biol Med. 60:80-8,
12. Koka S, Xi L, Kukreja RC. Chronic Treatment with Long Acting Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor Tadalafil Alters Proteomic Changes Associated with Cytoskeletal Rearrangement and Redox Regulation in Type 2 Diabetic Hearts. Basic Res Cardiol. 107:1-14, 2012.
13. Koka S, Das A, Zhu SG, Durrant D, Xi L, Kukreja RC. Long-acting Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor Tadalafil Attenuates Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyopathy without Interfering with Chemotherapeutic Effect. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 334: 1023-30, 2010.
14. Weber YG, Storch A, Wuttke TV, Brockmann K, Kempfle J, Maljevic S, Margari L, Kamm C, Schneider SA, Huber SM, Pekrun A, Roebling R, Seebohm G, Koka S, Lang C, Kraft E, Blazevic D, Salvo-Vargas A, Fauler M, Mottaghy FM, Münchau A, Edwards MJ, Presicci A, Margari F, Gasser T, Lang F, Bhatia KP, Horn FL and Lerche H. GLUT1 mutations are a cause of paroxysmal exertion-induced dyskinesias and a cation leak of this glucose transporter is linked to hemolytic anemia. J Clin Invest. 118(6):2157-68,
15. Föller M, Feil S, Ghoreschi K, Koka S, Hofmann F, Schuler B, Vogel J, Kasinathan RS, Nicolay JP, Huber SM, Lang F, Feil R. Anemia and splenomegaly in cGKI-deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105: 6771-6, 2008.
16. Lang PA, Schenck M, Nicolay JP, Becker JU, Kempe DS, Lupescu A, Koka S, Eisele K, Klarl BA, Rübben H, Schmid KW, Mann K, Hildenbrand S, Hefter H, Huber SM, Wieder T, Erhardt A, Häussinger D, Gulbins E, Lang F. Liver cell death and anemia in Wilson disease involve acid sphingomyelinase and ceramide. Nature Medicine 13: 164-170,