LSU Health Shreveport Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology

🎉 Excited to share that the Yurdagul lab has been awarded the prestigious American Heart Association Transformational Project Award to support their research on how macrophages sense nutrients from apoptotic cells in atherosclerosis.

This 3-year grant will enable the team to explore how metabolic and inflammatory pathways intersect to drive cardiovascular disease, and hopefully uncover new therapeutic targets to promote resolution of inflammation and plaque stability.

Huge thanks to the AHA for their continued investment in innovative, high-impact science, and for the opportunity for the Yurdagul lab to contribute to their mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases. ❤️🫀

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hongxue Shi, PhD to the Molecular and Cellular Physiology Department at LSUHS as our newest Assistant Professor!
Dr. Shi brings a wealth of expertise in Macrophage efferocytosis, Hepatocyte death, Hepatic stellate cell activation, and Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, with research interests that include understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive the rapid clearance of dead hepatocytes by liver macrophages, termed “efferocytosis”, leveraging the active process of hepatic inflammation resolution and hepatic stellate cell deactivation to reduce liver fibrosis, and examining multi-cellular crosstalk between liver macrophages, hepatocytes, and hepatic stellate cells that driven MASH progression and regression.
We're excited to have Dr. Shi join our vibrant academic community and look forward to the many contributions he will make in teaching, research, and service.
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dr. Shi. 🎉

AMAZING WORK, Analilia Cardenas Garza!!!

It is with great pride and pleasure that we announce the upcoming promotions of several of Physiology's esteemed faculty members. These well-deserved advancements reflect their outstanding contributions to teaching, research, service, and leadership within LSUHS academic community.

Please join us in congratulating:
Dr. Ana-Maria Dragoi, MD, PhD - Promoted to Associate Professor
Dr. Christopher Pattillo, PhD - Promoted to Professor
Dr. Arif Yurdagul Jr., PhD - Promoted to Associate Professor

Each of these individuals has demonstrated exceptional dedication to their field and to our students, and their promotions are a testament to their hard work and impact. We are proud to have such talented and committed members!!! 🎖🎉🎊🤗

The School of Graduate Studies recognizes graduating students for outstanding academic performance and research achievements. On May 9th, Brenna Gallion, a 2025 graduate in Molecular and Cellular Physiology, received the prestigious Dean's Award!

Congratulations to Brenna Pearson-Gallion for successfully defending her Dissertation last week!!

Congratulations to three members of the Molecular and Cellular Physiology faculty at LSU Health Shreveport. During its 7th Annual Research Celebration, the institution recognized notable research achievements from the past year and honored faculty members for their exceptional achievements with Research Excellence Awards.
Ana-Maria Dragoi, MD, PhD was honored with the Research Rising Star award.
Changwon Park, PhD and Arif Yurdagul, Jr., PhD were both honored with the Excellence in Scholarly Activity award for their exceptional contributions to high-impact, peer-reviewed publications.

We are pleased to share our sincere gratitude for everyone's participation in today's Physiology Spring seminar conducted via zoom. Thank you all once again for helping make this seminar a success. Dr. Cheloufi did an amazing job explaining "RNA and Chromatin based Mechanisms of Cellular Plasticity."

Had a great time hosting Student Appreciation on Monday!! It was awesome seeing all the hardworking students get a chance to relax, chat, and enjoy some fun moments together. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a memorable day! Let's keep the good vibes going! 🎊🎉

Be sure to attend the Career Development Seminar Series!! Drs. Eshaq and McGee, will be the speaker, sharing valuable insights into "Shaping the future of teaching skills and career advancement for LSUHS trainees"!

A big congratulations to our Graduate Student of the Month! We're excited to honor Nilu Dhungel for her exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication! Keep up the amazing work!

Congratulations to our March Student of the Month, Nilu Dhungel!
Nilu is a doctoral candidate in Dr. Ana Maria Dragoi’s Lab in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology. Her dissertation focuses on the tumor microenvironment (TME), where she has discovered that in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), direct contact with fibroblasts activates YAP1, leading to a hybrid cell state that resists chemotherapy. She also found that blocking YAP1 restores treatment sensitivity, highlighting the role of fibroblast interactions in cancer progression and drug resistance. Her research has led to a publication in this field.
Outside the lab, Nilu enjoys photography, traveling, and visiting museums. She considers her greatest accomplishment in graduate school to be her personal and professional growth, as the challenges of her graduate school journey have taught her resilience and perseverance.