معرفی
Dr. Henry J. Pownall is a Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, holding the Sanford I. Weill and Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., MD Centennial Chair in Translational Biomedical Sciences Education. He serves as Professor of Biochemistry in Medicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute and is a member of the Academic Institute Center for Bioenergetics within the Charles W. Duncan Jr. Department of Medicine. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Pownall received his educational training through:
- PhD in Chemistry from Northeastern University
- MS in Chemistry from Wilkes College, Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biochemistry at Baylor College of Medicine
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Photochemistry & Spectroscopy at the University of Houston
Dr. Pownall's research focuses on lipid metabolism, particularly HDL structure, properties, and function in the context of obesity-linked diabetes and atherogenesis. His laboratory studies the biology and physical chemistry of lipids related to obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and lipid nanoparticles using mouse models, physico-chemical methods, organic synthesis, and translational approaches in humans. A major research focus is on the role of free cholesterol bioavailability in various diseases, with current work examining how excess plasma free cholesterol relates to atherosclerosis among patients with high HDL concentrations.
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on translational research connecting basic lipid science with clinical applications, particularly in diabetes management, atherosclerosis mechanisms, and nanoparticle drug delivery systems. These works reflect his interdisciplinary approach spanning physical chemistry, molecular biology, and clinical medicine.
Dr. Pownall has received numerous scientific honors including:
- Established Investigator of the American Heart Association (1976-1981)
- J S Abercrombie Chair of Atherosclerosis & Lipoprotein Research at Baylor College of Medicine (1997-2012)
- Fellow of the American Heart Association
- Citizen of the Year, Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce (2003)
- Presidential Award - Excellence in Research (2023)
Dr. Pownall maintains an active academic program, serving on graduate advisory and qualifying exams committees for multiple programs at Baylor College of Medicine. He has secured significant research funding including NIH-supported projects and federal grants focused on dysfunctional HDL-free cholesterol bioavailability and atherogenesis. His current projects include "Dysfunctional High Density Lipoprotein Free Cholesterol Bioavailability and Atherogenesis" and "Human Atherogenesis with Underlying Dysfunctional HDL-Free Cholesterol," demonstrating his continued leadership in cardiovascular research.
The Pownall Laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with structural biologists, endocrinologists, and x-ray crystallographers. His team uses electron cryo microscopy for lipid structure analysis, studies lipid disorders in HIV-positive patients, and works on determining structure-function relationships of Streptococcal serum opacity factor. The laboratory is currently designing novel lipid nanoparticles optimized to resist metabolic challenges, involving chemical kinetics, organic synthesis, and in vivo comparisons of delivery systems.
