John E. Baker

John E. Baker, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Surgery (Pediatrics) and holds a secondary faculty position in the Department of Biochemistry at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). He joined MCW's Cardiothoracic Surgery faculty in 1987 after postdoctoral training, becoming a secondary faculty member in Biochemistry in 1992. He currently chairs the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Dr. Baker earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of London in 1984, studying calcium paradox mechanisms in the rat heart. His research focuses on cardioprotection mechanisms in congenital heart disease, particularly the role of erythropoietin in mitigating myocardial injury during surgery. He investigates hypoxia-induced adaptations, radiation-induced cardiotoxicity, and immune-mediated cardiac remodeling following renal irradiation. Notably, his work revealed erythropoietin's concentration-dependent cardioprotective effects via potassium channels and MAP kinase pathways, with plans for a clinical trial in pediatric cardiac surgery.

His publications span radiation biology, cardiovascular physiology, and translational cardiology, emphasizing mechanisms of ischemic injury and radioprotection. He collaborates broadly, addressing topics like space radiation effects, metabolic pathways under hindlimb unloading, and T-cell contributions to cardiac pathology. His work bridges basic science and clinical application, aiming to enhance myocardial resilience in high-risk surgical and radiological contexts.