Nicholas Andersen Email & Phone Number

My current role at Spectrum Health is a Scientist within the Scholarly Activity and Scientific Support Team embedded into the Office of Research and Education. My main position is to be an internal scientific consultant to physicians, fellows, residents and other research investigators to improve the scientific validity of the clinical research studies. I assist in critiquing and scientific editing of IRB protocols, posters, manuscripts, and grants. In addition, I perform a pre-peer review of manuscripts to identify weaknesses prior to journal submission. I also perform writing lectures and serve on research boards within the hospital system.My Post-Doctoral research was to use a multi-disciplinary approach to study endothelial cell biology. In particular, my interested was the role of MAPkinase signaling on pathological and physiological endothelium.Pathological endothelial expansion can lead to begnin hemangiomas or highly aggressive endothelial cancers (angiosarcoma). We identified active MEK1/2 MAPkinse pathway in angiosarcoma tissues. Treatment with a MEK1/2 inhibitor reduced angiosarcoma PDX growth. Furthermore, we identified a synergistic effect from a MEK1/2 and mTOR inhibitor combination strategy. This combination treatment was more efficacious in angiosarcoma PDX then monotherapy. The vasculature physiological response to arterial blockage is to increase both vessel density (angiogenesis) and expand collateral artery lumens (arteriogenesis). Patients with Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) show a diminished angiogenesis and arteriogenesis resulting in poor limb circulation and tissue ischemia. We are currently examining the necessity of MAPkinases in both angiogenesis and arteriogenesis.

Listed skills include Western Blotting, Murine Microsurgery, Quantitative Pcr, Primary Cell Culture, and 5 others.