Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral position available to study the role of the second messenger ceramide in angiotensin 2 (Ang2)-induced microvascular disease. There is increasing interest in Ang2 signal transduction as a unique feature of SARS-CoV2 acute lung injury is the inactivation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a coronavirus cell surface receptor. Decreased catalytically-active ACE2 leads to unopposed Ang2 stimulation of microvascular endothelium via activation of its receptor AT1R, an event that leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mortality. Evidence to date indicates that ceramide generation on the surface of pulmonary endothelium is required for ARDS in animal models, supported by complementary human data. Re-purposing of an anti-ceramide antibody currently under development for the Radiation GI Syndrome, a potential lethal outcome of civilian exposure during a nuclear catastrophe, is fundamental to success of this project. Extensive collaboration with clinical groups at National Jewish in Denver and Mt. Sinai in NYC further extends these studies to SARS-CoV2 infected patients, who display significantly altered ceramide metabolism. Interested candidates please send curriculum vitae to:

Richard Kolesnick

Professor of Molecular Pharmacology

Weill Cornell Medical College

Member, Sloan Kettering Institute

e-mail: r-kolesnick@ski.mskcc.org