Welcome to the Sabharwal Lab!
Research
Our research is directed towards understanding neurohumoral control of circulation in health, disease, and aging. Ongoing projects investigate the role of renin-angiotensin system, sympathetic nervous system, and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. We utilize multidisciplinary and state-of-the art approaches such as radiotelemetry, echocardiography, optogenetics, electrophysiology, in vivo viral gene transfer, molecular biology, Cre-loxP, neuroanatomy etc. to assess cardiovascular and autonomic functions, diurnal rhythms, behavioral neuroscience and neural circuitry in mice. Our ultimate goal is to identify novel therapies that can be translated to yield better clinical outcomes in dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, hypertension, mood disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. The Sabharwal laboratory is funded through National Institute of Health (NIH), American Heart Association (AHA) and internal and external collaborative research awards.
Lab Members
Lab Members
Alumni
| Trainee | Year | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Emma Walsh | 2022 | BSURP Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Gabriela Cerri | 2022 | Postdoctoral Scholar |
| Abby Thill | 2022 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Prakruti Pancholi | 2022 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Mikayla Gibson | 2022 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Alanna Adkins | 2023 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Sophia Furcht | 2023 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Gursimran Gill | 2025 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Cassandra Smith | 2025 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Pintu Miah | 2025 | Graduate Research Assistant |
| Sean Brobston | 2025 | Graduate Research Assistant |
| Nusaira Shahab | 2026 | Graduate (PhD) Student |
Selected Publications
- Sabharwal, R., Chapleau, M.W., Gerhold, T.D., Baumbach, G.L. & Faraci, F.M. (2022). Plasticity of cerebral microvascular structure and mechanics during hypertension and following recovery of arterial pressure. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00292.2022. PMID: 36269650.
- Sabharwal, R., Mason, B.N., Kuburas, A., Abboud, F.M., Russo, A.F., & Chapleau, M.W. (2019). Increased receptor activity-modifying protein 1 in the nervous system is sufficient to protect against autonomic dysregulation and hypertension. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 39(4): 690-703. doi: 10.1171177/0271678X17751352. PMID: 29297736 PMCID: PMC6446426.
- Sabharwal, R., Rasmussen, L., Sluka, K.A., & Chapleau, M.W. (2016). Exercise prevents development of autonomic dysregulation and hyperalgesia in a mouse model of chronic muscle pain. Pain, 157(2):387-98. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000330. PMID: 26313406 PMCID: PMC4724275.
- Sabharwal, R., Weiss, R.M., Zimmerman, K., Domenig, O., Cicha, M.Z., & Chapleau, M.W. (2015). Angiotensin-dependent autonomic dysregulation precedes dilated cardiomyopathy in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy. Exp Physiol, 100(7):776-95. doi: 10.1113/EP085066. PMID: 25921929 PMCID: PMC4505616.
- Sabharwal, R., Cicha, M.Z., Sinisterra, R.D., De Sousa, F.B., Santos, R.A., & Chapleau, M.W. (2014). Chronic oral administration of Ang-(1-7) improves skeletal muscle, autonomic and locomotor phenotypes in muscular dystrophy. Clin Sci (Lond), 127(2):101-109. doi: 10.1042/CS 20130602. PMID: 24502705 PMCID: PMC4318348.
- Sabharwal, R., & Chapleau, M.W. (2014). Autonomic, locomotor and cardiac abnormalities in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy: targeting the renin-angiotensin system. Exp Physiol, 99(4):627-31. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2013.074336. PMID: 24334334 PMCID: PMC4322680.
- Sabharwal, R. (2014). The link between stress disorders and autonomic dysfunction in muscular dystrophy. Front Physiol, 5:25. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00025. PMID: 24523698 PMCID: PMC3905207.
- Osei-Owusu, P., Sabharwal, R., Kaltenbronn, K.M., Rhee, M.H, Chapleau, M.W., Dietrich, H.H., & Blumer, K.J. (2012). Regulator of G protein signaling 2 deficiency causes endothelial dysfunction and impaired endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated relaxation by dysregulating Gi/o signaling. J Biol Chem, 287(15):12541-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.332130. PMID: 22354966 PMCID: PMC3321003.
- Chapleau, M.W., & Sabharwal, R. (2011). Methods of assessing vagus nerve activity and reflexes. Heart Fail Rev, 16(2):109-27. doi: 10.1007/s10741-010-9174-6. Review. PMID: 20577901 PMCID: PMC4322860.
- Sabharwal, R., Zhang, Z., Lu, Y., Abboud, F.M., Russo, A.F., & Chapleau, M.W. (2010). Receptor activity-modifying protein 1 increases baroreflex sensitivity and attenuates Angiotensin-induced hypertension. Hypertension, 55(3):627-35. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIO NAHA.109.148171. PMID: 20100989 PMCID: PMC2902886.
- Lu, Y., Ma, X., Sabharwal, R., Snitsarev, V., Morgan, D., Rahmouni, K., Drummond, H.A., Whiteis, C.A., Costa, V., Price, M., Benson, C., Welsh, M.J., Chapleau, M.W., & Abboud, F.M. (2009). The ion channel ASIC2 is required for baroreceptor and autonomic control of the circulation. Neuron, 64(6):885-97. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.11.007. PMID: 20064394 PMCID: PMC2807410.
All Publications
See Dr. Sabharwal's complete list of publications on PubMed.
News
- We congratulate Dr. Cerri for her first oral presentation at the 2022 annual conference of the American Autonomic Society, held in Maui, Hawaii. November 2022
- Nusaira Shahab has joined the lab as a Graduate Research Assistant. She is from the Human Toxicology Graduate Program and will complete her PhD research under Dr. Sabharwal's mentorship. August 2022
- We welcome Cassandra Smith (majoring in Biology/Neuroscience), Alanna Adkins and Mikayla Gibson (both majoring in Human Physiology), as undergraduate research assistants. August 2022
- Congratulations to Emma Walsh for her first poster presentation at the Undergraduate Research Day held on July 27, 2022 at the Iowa Memorial Union. We celebrated completion of Emmas productive summer internship! July 2022
- We welcome Prakruti Pancholi and Abby Thill who have joined the lab as undergraduate research assistants. Prakruti is a Medical Anthropology/ Pre-Med track student. Abby is majoring in Human Physiology/Pre-Med track. June 2022
- We welcome Emma Walsh from the Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate Research Program (BSURP) for a summer research internship. May 2022
- Congratulations to Dr. Cerri and Dr. Foroozandehasl for their first national presentation at the Experimental Biology 2022 meeting held in Philadelphia. April 2022
- Dr. Sabharwal is elected to serve on the Executive Board of the American Autonomic Society. Nov 2021
- We welcome Dr. Marjan Aghajani who has joined the lab as a postdoctoral research scholar. Dr. Aghajani obtained her PhD in Medical Physiology from Tehran University in Medical Sciences in 2017. Nov 2021
- We welcome Dr. Parisa Foroozandehasl who has joined the lab as a postdoctoral research scholar. Dr. Foroozandehasl obtained her PhD in Biophysics from University Science Malaysia in 2019. Oct 2021
- Dr. Sabharwal has been awarded a new NIH R21 (2021-2023) to study cardiovascular and cognitive comorbidities in Alzheimer’s Disease. July 2021
- We welcome Dr. Gabriela Cerri who has joined the lab as a postdoctoral research scholar. Dr. Cerri obtained her PhD from Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. June 2021
- Dr. Sabharwal has been awarded a NIH R01 (2020-2024) to study mechanisms of stress-induced morbidity and mortality in dilated cardiomyopathy. April 2020
- Dr. Sabharwal was awarded a FOE Iowa State Grant to study AT2R induced cardiac remodeling in mice with dilated cardiomyopathy. Nov 2019
Experimental Biology Meeting, Philadelphia, April 2-5, 2022
Undergraduate Research Conference & Celebration, IMU, July 27, 2022
Lab Lunch 8/25/2022
American Autonomic Society Annual Conference
Lab Opportunities
We welcome applications for postdoctoral research scholar or research internship positions. Candidate must hold a M.D. or Ph.D. in Physiology, Neuroscience or related disciplines (for postdoctoral position), and have prior experience in mouse handling and small animal surgery. To apply, please email your CV, a letter of interest with prior research experience and name/address of 3 references to Dr. Sabharwal.
Prospective rotation students, interested in basic and translational research, are welcome to reach out to Dr. Sabharwal with their CV. Dr. Sabharwal is affiliated with the Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, and Summer Research Fellowship Programs.