Professional Bio
Dr. Berk is Professor of Medicine, Cardiology, and Pharmacology and the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences at the University of Rochester. Dr. Berk received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Rochester. He has served on the faculties of Harvard Medical School, Emory University, and the University of Washington. Dr. Berk was previously Chairman of Medicine (1999-2006) and Chief of the Cardiology Unit (1998-2003) at the University of Rochester. In addition he was Director of the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute. Dr. Berk is a fellow of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, and a member of the Association of American Physicians. Dr. Berk is past-president of the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO). He is Consulting Editor for Circulation and Circulation Research and is on the editorial boards of ATVB and the Journal of Clinical Investigation. He serves on the Empire State Stem Cell Board Funding Committee and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Stem Cell Clinical Trial Network and Gene and Cell-Based Therapies Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB).
His research interests include: molecular biology of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone
system; regulation of endothelial cell function especially by shear stress; the role of oxidative stress in vascular biology and the genetic mechanisms of vascular remodeling. Dr. Berk has published widely – more than 250 articles, chapters, and books.
Listed below is Dr. Berk's affiliation:
Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine, Cardiology, and Pharmacology
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, New York
US Postal mail should be sent to:
Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Rochester Medical Center
Office of Vice President for Health Sciences
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 706
Rochester, New York 14642
FEDEX
Bradford C. Berk, M.D, Ph.D.
University of Rochester Medical Center
Office of Vice President for Health Sciences
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 706, Rm. 1-4337
Rochester, NY 14642
Research Bio
Dr. Berk's laboratory is known for studying signal transduction mechanisms in the vasculature, focusing specifically on defining the mechanisms by which cells in the vascular wall respond to hemodynamic and hormonal stimuli. The four major research areas ongoing in the laboratory include 1) Mechanisms by which blood vessels sense changes in blood flow using protein kinases as targets for signal events. Using cultured endothelial cells and animal models of altered blood flow two projects are underway. The first project investigates the mechanisms by which flow activates the Big MAP kinase (or ERK5) and inhibits inflammation and atherosclerosis.
In the second project, the redox-dependent mechanisms that maintain an antioxidant environment are being studied using the apoptosis signal kinase-1 (ASK1) and thioredoxin as targets. The goal of these projects is to identify signal transduction events that confer atheroprotection in the setting of steady laminar flow as opposed to the pro-atherosclerotic effects of disturbed and turbulent flow. 2) The cellular mechanisms that cause hypertension are being investigated by analysis of the role of the renin angiotensin system and the kinases that regulate intracellular sodium. The regulation of smooth muscle cell growth by angiotensin II is focused on the activation of intracellular kinases and phosphatases by the angiotensin II receptor. 3) The mechanisms by which changes in cellular redox state alter blood vessel function are being studied to provide insight into the ways that reactive oxygen species regulate vessel function. Specifically the role of the chaperone molecule cyclophilin A as a mediator of vascular pathology is being studied with several different transgenic models. 4) A genetic model of vascular remodeling in the mouse has been established. A carotid flow reduction model has been characterized and is being used to identify genes responsible for impaired flow-dependent remodeling by positional cloning in inbred strains of mice.
| Vice-chair | Vascular Cell Biology Gordon Conference |
2004 - 2005 |
| Russell Ross Memorial Lectureship in Vascular Biology | Council for Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, Vascular Biology |
2003 |
| Theo Tsagaris Memorial Lecture | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, Utah |
2002 |
| Indiana Vascular Society/ICVBM Conference | University of Indiana | Indianapolis, Indiana |
2002 |
| Pfizer Visiting Professor | University of Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa |
2002 |
| Borun Visiting Professor in Cardiology | UCLA Medical Center | Los Angeles, CA |
1999 |
| Annual Pulsifer Lecture, Guest Speaker | Rochester Academy of Medicine |
1999 |
| Pfizer Visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Disease | Wayne State University School of Medicine |
1995 |
| Marion Young Scholar Award | American Society for Hypertension |
1992 |
| Katz Prize Finalist | American Heart Association |
1986 |
| Young Investigator's Award | American College of Cardiology |
1985 |
| Robert Kates Memorial Prize in Research, Doran J. Stephens Prize in Medicine | Alpha Omega Alpha |
1981 |
| Phi Beta Kappa, John Albree Jr. Class of 1981 Memorial Fund Award for History | John Woodruff Simpson Postgraduate Scholarship in Medicine |
1975 |
| Medical Scientist Training Program (Pharmacology) | University of Rochester | Rochester, NY |
1975 - 1981 |
| Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Fellowship (Microbiology) | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute | Woods Hole, MA |
1974 |
| National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Program (Molecular Biology) | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA |
1973 |
2013 May
Pang J, Xu X, Wang X, Majumder S, Wang J, Korshunov VA, Berk BC. "G-protein-coupled receptor kinase interacting protein-1 mediates intima formation by regulating vascular smooth muscle proliferation, apoptosis, and migration." Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 2013 May 0; 33(5):999-1005. Epub 2013 Feb 21. |
2012 Nov 13
Smolock EM, Korshunov VA, Glazko G, Qiu X, Gerloff J, Berk B. "Ribosomal protein L17, RpL17, is an inhibitor of vascular smooth muscle growth and carotid intima formation." Circulation. 2012 Nov 13; 126(20):2418-27. Epub 2012 Oct 12. |
2012 May 24
Bell RD, Winkler EA, Singh I, Sagare AP, Deane R, Wu Z, Holtzman DM, Betsholtz C, Armulik A, Sallstrom J, Berk BC, Zlokovic BV. "Apolipoprotein E controls cerebrovascular integrity via cyclophilin A." Nature. 2012 May 24; 485(7399):512-6. Epub 2012 May 16. |
2012 May
Spindel ON, Yan C, Berk BC. "Thioredoxin-interacting protein mediates nuclear-to-plasma membrane communication: role in vascular endothelial growth factor 2 signaling." Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 2012 May 0; 32(5):1264-70. Epub 2012 Feb 16. |
2012 Mar 15
Spindel ON, World C, Berk B. "Thioredoxin interacting protein: redox dependent and independent regulatory mechanisms." Antioxidants & redox signaling. 2012 Mar 15; 16(6):587-96. Epub 2011 Dec 20. |
