Peter Kang Laboratory: Research
Peter Kang, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Cardiovascular Research
Cardiovascular Division
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston MA 02215
Tel: 617-735-4290
Fax: 617-735-4202
e-mail: pkang@bidmc.harvard.edu
Education/Training/Appointments
Dr. Kang received his B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, and his M.D. from George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. He completed an Internship and Residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and a Cardiology Fellowship at Beth Israel Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. He is currently a full-time cardiology faculty member at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Kang Lab Members
Soochan Bae, PhD, Research Fellow
Byung Ryul Cho, MD, Research Fellow
Sylvia Singh, MD, Research Fellow
Qingen Ke, MD, Research Fellow
Mohammed Samad, MS, PhD Student
Ji Yoo (Sunny) Lee, BS, Research Assistant
Seung Gyu Park, BS, Research Student
On Hwang, BS, Research Student
Nam Eun (Faye) Min, BS, Research Student
Research Interests
The major focus of our laboratory is basic and translational cardiovascular research with an emphasis on developing novel therapies for cardiovascular diseases. One of our research interests is to study the molecular mechanisms of cardiac apoptosis and develop novel anti-apoptotic applications in cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, we are developing novel nanoparticle-based systems that are activated by hydrogen peroxide, the most abundant form of reactive oxygen species produced during reperfusion injury, to be used in cardiovascular therapeutics and bio-imaging.
In addition, we showed that Vitamin D therapy prevents the progression of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in animal models. We are currently investigating the molecular mechanism of cardiac dysfunction associated with Vitamin D deficiency and examining the potential role of Vitamin D therapy in the treatment of heart failure. Also, we, in collaboration with other investigators, identified novel VDR agonists and are studying these novel compounds for clinical applications.
Key Publications
Han Y, Chen YS, Liu Z, Bodyak N, Rigor D, Bisping E, Pu WT, Kang PM. Overexpression of HAX-1 protects cardiac myocytes from apoptosis through caspase-9 inhibition. Circ Res 2006; 99:415-423.
Bodyak N, Ayus JC, Achinger S, Shivalingappa V, Ke Q, Chen YS, Rigor DL, Stillman I, Tamez H, Kroeger PE, Wu-Wong RR, Karumanchi A, Thadhani R, Kang PM. Activated vitamin D attenuates left ventricular abnormalities induced by dietary sodium in Dahl salt-sensitive animals. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2007; 104:16810-5.
Choudhury S, Bae S, Kumar SR, Ke Q, Yalamarti B, Choi JH, Kirshenbaum LA, Kang PM. Role of AIF in cardiac apoptosis in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes from Dahl salt sensitive rats. Cardiovasc Res 2010; 85:28-37.
Choudhury S, Bae S, Ke Q, Lee JY, Kim J, Kang PM. Mitochondria to nucleus translocation of AIF in mice lacking Hsp70 during ischemia/reperfusion. Basic Res Cardiol 2011: 106:397-407.
Bae, S, Yalamarti B, Ke Q, Choudhury S, Karumanchi SA, Kroeger P, Thadhani R, Kang PM. Preventing progression of cardiac hypertrophy and development of heart failure by paricalcitol therapy in rats. Cardiovasc Res 2011; 91:632-9.
