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Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Administrative: (585) 276-7418

Office: (585) 276-7418

Fax: (585) 276-9829

URMFGA member of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group

groupAn Accountable Health Partner

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Research Labs

1) Vascular biology; 2) ischemic injury; 3) electrophysiology and ion channels, 4) pharmacology and signal transduction; 5) genetics of cardiovascular disease

Visit 1) Vascular biology; 2) ischemic injury; 3) electrophysiology and ion channels, 4) pharmacology and signal transduction; 5) genetics of cardiovascular disease Lab Website

Locations

University of Rochester Medical Center 
601 Elmwood Avenue
Box URNI
Rochester, NY 14642

Faculty Appointments

Patient Care Setting

Cardiology

Biography

Dr. Berk's 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.

Professional Background

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

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.

Credentials

Education

1975
BA | Amherst College
Pre-Medical

1981
PhD | University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Pharmacology

1981
MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Medicine

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

07/01/1984 - 06/30/1987
Fellowship in Research Fellow in Medicine at Harvard Medical School

07/01/1984 - 06/30/1987
Fellowship in Cardiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital

07/01/1982 - 06/30/1984
Residency in Internal Medicine at West Roxbury Veteran s Hospital

07/01/1982 - 06/30/1984
Residency in Cardiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital

07/01/1981 - 6/30/1982
Internship in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital

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Awards

2004 - 2005
Vice-chair
Sponsor: Vascular Cell Biology Gordon Conference

2003
Russell Ross Memorial Lectureship in Vascular Biology
Sponsor: Council for Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, Vascular Biology

2002
Theo Tsagaris Memorial Lecture
Sponsor: University of Utah
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

2002
Indiana Vascular Society/ICVBM Conference
Sponsor: University of Indiana
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

2002
Pfizer Visiting Professor
Sponsor: University of Iowa
Location: Iowa City, Iowa

1999
Borun Visiting Professor in Cardiology
Sponsor: UCLA Medical Center
Location: Los Angeles, CA

1999
Annual Pulsifer Lecture, Guest Speaker
Sponsor: Rochester Academy of Medicine

1995
Pfizer Visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Disease
Sponsor: Wayne State University School of Medicine

1992
Marion Young Scholar Award
Sponsor: American Society for Hypertension

1986
Katz Prize Finalist
Sponsor: American Heart Association

1985
Young Investigator's Award
Sponsor: American College of Cardiology

1981
Robert Kates Memorial Prize in Research, Doran J. Stephens Prize in Medicine
Sponsor: Alpha Omega Alpha

1975 - 1981
Medical Scientist Training Program (Pharmacology)
Sponsor: University of Rochester
Location: Rochester, NY

1975
Phi Beta Kappa, John Albree Jr. Class of 1981 Memorial Fund Award for History
Sponsor: John Woodruff Simpson Postgraduate Scholarship in Medicine

1974
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Fellowship (Microbiology)
Sponsor: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Location: Woods Hole, MA

1973
National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Program (Molecular Biology)
Sponsor: California Institute of Technology
Location: Pasadena, CA

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Patents

Patent Title: Thioredoxin Interacting Protein (TXNIP) as a Regulator of Vascular Function
Patent #: 8,999,944
Issue Date: Apr 07, 2015
Country: United States
Invented By: Bradford C Berk

Patent Title: Thioredoxin Interacting Protein (TXNIP as Regulator of Vascular Function
Patent #: 200606376
Issue Date: Jun 21, 2012
Country: Australia
Invented By: Bradford C Berk

Patent Title: Method of Inhibiting Angiogenesis Using Inhibitors of G-Protein -Coupled Receptor Kinase Interacting Protein-1 (GIT1)
Patent #: 9,670,259
Issue Date: Jun 06, 2017
Country: United States
Invented By: Bradford C Berk, Syamantak Majumder, Jinjiang Pang

Patent Title: Method and Compositions for Treatment or Prevention of Inflammatory Conditions
Patent #: 1602247
Issue Date: Mar 11, 2015
Country: China, People's Republic of
Invented By: Bradford C Berk, Kye-Im Jeon, Jian-Dong Li, Xiangbin Xu, Chen Yan

Patent Title: Method and Compositions For Treatment or Prevention of Inflammatory Conditions
Patent #: 9,682,070
Issue Date: Jun 20, 2017
Country: United States
Invented By: Bradford C Berk, Kye-Im Jeon, Jian-Dong Li, Xiangbin Xu, Chen Yan

Patent Title: Method and Compositions For Treatment or Prevention of Inflammatory Conditions
Patent #: 9,241,932
Issue Date: Jan 26, 2016
Country: United States
Invented By: Bradford C Berk, Kye-Im Jeon, Jian-Dong Li, Xiangbin Xu, Chen Yan

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Publications

Journal Articles

8/2019
Korshunov VA, Quinn B, Faiyaz A, Ahmed R, Sowden MP, Doyley MM, Berk BC. "Strain-selective efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan on carotid fibrosis in response to injury in two inbred mouse strains." British journal of pharmacology.. 2019 Aug; 176(15):2795-2807. Epub 2019 Jun 24.

3/18/2019
Carmo LSD, Berk BC, Harrison DG. "NOX5 as a therapeutic target in cerebral ischemic injury." The Journal of clinical investigation.. 2019 Mar 18; 130:1530-1532. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

2019
Plekhanova O, Parfyonova Y, Beloglazova I, Berk BC, Tkachuk V. "Oligonucleotide Microarrays Identified Potential Regulatory Genes Related to Early Outward Arterial Remodeling Induced by Tissue Plasminogen Activator." Frontiers in physiology.. 2019 10:493. Epub 2019 Apr 30.

Books & Chapters

2006
Book Title: A Handbook of Mouse Models of Cardiovascular Disease
Author List: Berk BC, Korshunov VA
Edited By: Xu Q., Eds.
Published By: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 2006

2003
Chapter Title: Biology of the Vascular Wall in Hypertension
Book Title: The Kidney
Author List: Berk BC
Edited By: Brenner BM; Rector FC, Jr.
Published By: W. B. Saunders 2003

2003
Chapter Title: Lipids and Atherosclerosis
Book Title: Cholesterol Lowering, A Practical Guide to Therapy
Author List: Berk BC; Wuthrich DA
Edited By: Abrams J., Eds.
Published By: Oxford University Press 2003

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Videos

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SECOND OPINION | Spinal Cord Injury | APT | Full Episode