Stephanie Watts

Stephanie Watts, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at Michigan State University (MSU), affiliated with the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her research focuses on cardiovascular pharmacology, particularly mechanisms linking vascular dysfunction to hypertension and obesity. She leads a lab employing multidisciplinary techniques including isolated tissue studies, molecular biology, and animal models to explore translational therapeutics. Key projects investigate chemerin signaling, perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) biology, and sex-specific vascular responses.

Education: PhD in Pharmacology, with 29 years of continuous faculty service at MSU. She teaches advanced courses in pharmacology (PHM 801, 803, 805) and mentors students in translational research.

Research Interests:

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology
• Obesity-Associated Hypertension
• 5-HT7 Receptor Biology
• Perivascular Adipose Tissue (PVAT) Function
• Mechanotransduction in Vessels

Notable Work: Recent studies highlight chemerin's role in vasoconstriction, PVAT's protective effects on vessel stiffness, and sex-dependent vascular responses to high-fat diets. Over 40 peer-reviewed publications since 2016 demonstrate her sustained productivity in cardiovascular pharmacology.

Awards: Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA).

Funding: Active grant from the American Heart Association (2019-2022) investigating chemerin knockdown as hypertension therapy.

Labs/Teams: Director of a dynamic lab training students in pharmacology, physiology, and molecular techniques. Collaborates across disciplines to bridge basic science and clinical applications.