Matthew Gorr Email & Phone Number

Columbus, Oh, Us

Columbus, Ohio, United States

• Examining the biology of the right ventricle to characterize right ventricle biology in search of novel therapeutic strategies for right heart disease. This is completed by molecular and cellular experiments isolated from disease tissue.• Examining the novel biology of exposure during pregnancy including to e-cigarettes (vaping) using rodent exposure paradigms.• Using patient-derived primary cell culture to study the expression of relevant genes in lung diseases including pulmonary hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Columbus, Ohio Area

• Upon discovery of unique features of the right ventricle of the heart compared to the left ventricle, I utilized RNA-sequencing, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, flow cytometry and cell culture to examine the biology of the right ventricle to characterize right ventricle biology in search of novel therapeutic strategies for right heart disease.• Tested novel drug targets on right ventricular fibrosis and function using animal models of pulmonary hypertension.•Utilized patient-derived primary cell culture of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts to study the expression of relevant genes in lung diseases including pulmonary hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.• Worked toward the discovery of novel biology of e-cigarette (vaping) use using rodent exposure paradigms, and cell culture.

La Jolla, California

• Identified novel G protein-coupled receptors as potential drug targets in pulmonary hypertension using patient-derived samples and RNA-seq. Validating targets with in vitro assays including second messengers.• Collaborated with pharmaceutical industry partners to further validate targets in vitro and in a mouse model of pulmonary hypertension. Resulted in new and maintained drug discovery funding from industry partners.• Recruited, trained, and directed three undergraduates and one Ph.D. student. Three of these students have presented research at conferences and all are pursuing graduate school or scientific positions.• Presented findings at two national meetings with two oral presentations, one resulted in a postdoc speaking award from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET).Membrane receptors known as G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) make up a large number of currently approved drug targets, though many that are expressed in human tissue remain undefined. GPCRs are capable of receiving a signal and modifying a myriad of downstream cellular processes. My work in Dr. Paul Insel's lab utilized an unbiased approach to screen for GPCRs expressed in human cells collected from patients with disease. I applied this approach to pulmonary arterial hypertension, a progressive heart and lung disease, to identify and characterize functional GPCRs that could be used as future therapy.

Dorothy M. Davis Heart And Lung Research Institute

- Utilized rodent echocardiography, cardiomyocyte function (contractility) and calcium measurements, and molecular biology to characterize heart failure-like phenotype in mice exposed to air pollution.- Developed a cellular model using lung epithelial cells and cardiomyocytes to study the toxicity of pollutants across the air-blood interface using measurement of cardiomyocyte calcium flux and contractility.- Research resulted in publication of 13 articles in peer-reviewed journals, a pre-doctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association, and presentations at multiple national conferences.- Served as laboratory manager of a diverse staff of technicians, undergraduate and medical students, volunteers, and peers by guiding operations, developing experiments, and collaborating with labs at multiple institutions.

Taught Human Nutrition to undergraduates. Designed lectures, activities, quizzes and exams based on developed curriculum.

The Research Institute At Nationwide Children'S Hospital

- Performed daily experiments involving isolation of cardiomyocytes and examining cellular physiology and function in response to drugs and pollutants. Collected, analyzed, and interpreted data for publication.- Presented research at laboratory meetings and provided valuable input towards other experiments, including utilization of a rat model of diabetes and an animal model of air pollution exposure.

Environmental Remediation And Restoration Laboratory

- Spearheaded project with industrial collaborator to develop biological treatment wetland for contaminant remediation. Utilized computer modeling combined with data collected from mesoscale system.- Taught recitation section for undergraduate biology and developed material for presentations.

Phd, Molecular, Cellular And Developmental Biology

Master Of Science, Ecology

Bachelor Of Science, Biology