Hong S. Lu, MD, PhD

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the nation and industrialized nations, accounting for nearly 50% of all deaths. My research focuses on atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms and dissections, and renin-angiotensin regulations of cardiovascular functions. For both atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms, my research aims to explore pharmacological inhibition of the renin angiotensin system and mechanisms related to the renin-angiotensin system (Collaboration with Dr. Alan Daugherty at the University of Kentucky). For atherosclerosis, I also study mechanisms and potential therapies related to cGAS-STING-mediated dyslipidemia and inflammation (Collaboration with Dr. Ying Shen at Baylor College of Medicine). At the same time, I study the vascular biology of LRP1 (LDL receptor-related protein 1; Collaboration with Dr. Dudley Strickland at the University of Maryland) and PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1; Collaboration with Dr. Daniel Lawrence at the University of Michigan), and the renin-angiotensin regulation in kidney by megalin (LRP2: LDL receptor-related protein 2).