Cam McCarthy

Cam McCarthy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Translational Research Center Cell Biology and Anatomy at the University of South Carolina’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. He is also affiliated with the School of Medicine, Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on vascular physiology in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, particularly mechanisms of hypertension, autophagy dysregulation, and therapeutic interventions like exercise. McCarthy holds a Ph.D. in Physiology from the Medical College of Georgia, an M.S. in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Memphis, and a B.S. in Physical Education from Appalachian State University.

Research Interests: McCarthy’s lab investigates vascular deterioration in diseases such as hypertension and metabolic syndrome, emphasizing autophagy, energy sensing, and the role of innate immune cells (e.g., neutrophils). His work explores how interventions like caloric restriction and exercise can reverse vascular dysfunction. Recent studies include the impact of opioids on vascular aging, the role of beta-hydroxybutyrate in vasodilation, and the interplay between microbiota and blood pressure regulation.

Awards and Honors:

• American Physiological Society (APS) Cardiovascular Section Clinical Science Young Investigator Award
• Fellow of the AHA (FAHA) Council on Hypertension
• NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
• American Heart Association Career Development Award (CDA)

Labs and Teams: McCarthy co-leads the Cam Squared Labs (Laboratory of Vascular and Integrative Physiology) with Dr. Camilla F. Wenceslau, focusing on hypertension and vascular dysfunction mechanisms. The lab uses advanced techniques like myography, microscopy, and in vivo hemodynamics. Their work is supported by grants from NIH and AHA.