Khadija Rafiq, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Contact
1020 Locust Street
Suite 543A
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-503-5593
215-503-5731 fax
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Khadija Rafiq, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Research & Clinical Interests
Our research focuses on the identification and characterization of key proteins and pathways that regulate cardiac inflammation induced during pathological conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, sepsis, and cardiac injury. The lab focuses on targeting 1) B cell inflammatory gene, allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1), and 2) Mitochondrial 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA (HMG‐CoA) synthase (HMGCS2), as a new therapy to limit inflammation, myocyte loss, and enhance cardiac function in heart failure related diabetes. These questions are addressed by employing in vitro models of gain- and loss-of-function of molecules of interest. In vitro findings are further supported by in vivo transgenic mice models that either selectively overexpress or delete the candidate molecules in the mouse heart. The lab employs dynamic state-of-art technologies to dissect disease mechanism and identify potential therapeutic targets. Frequently used research approaches include proteomics, chemical, biochemical, immunological, and pathophysiological approaches. Our long-term goals are to provide novel insights about the molecular pathways that govern cardiac myocyte growth and function and to use this information to devise pharmacologic and genetic therapies for heart diseases in humans.
Education
PhD, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, 2000
Publications
- Proteasome biology and therapeutics in cardiac diseases
- Humoral immunity in heart failure
- Nanoparticle based treatment for cardiovascular diseases
- The Role of Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 in the Effects of Experimental Diabetes on B Cell Functions in the Heart
- Molecular network, pathway, and functional analysis of time-dependent gene changes related to cathepsin G exposure in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes