Dhruv Vajipayajula

Research/Areas of Interest

For my first summer rotation, I studied the role of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) in heart failure. I used cultured cardiac fibroblasts from mouse models of induced heart failure and investigated gene expression and cell characteristics that are indicative of pro-inflammatory or fibrotic changes that contribute to heart disease. I also explored the effects of AHR agonism or loss via global knockout on cardiac fibroblast transformation, contractility, and crosstalk with immune cells.

Rotation Advisor: Pilar Alcaide, PhD

Education

BS, Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA