Mohammad Shohel Akhter

Mohammad Shohel Akhter is a Research Fellow in Pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine, affiliated with the Goodwin Lab. His research focuses on understanding mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in inflammatory and stress conditions, with particular emphasis on the roles of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonists, unfolded protein response (UPR), and redox regulation in protecting endothelial barrier integrity. His work spans experimental models of lung injury, sepsis, and oxidative stress, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets for vascular diseases.

Research Interests: Dr. Akhter's studies investigate the interplay between cellular stress responses (e.g., UPR, oxidative stress), inflammation, and endothelial barrier dysfunction. Key areas include: 1) Pharmacological modulation of GHRH signaling to mitigate lung injury, 2) Kinase pathways (NEK2/NEK9) driving endothelial permeability changes, 3) Molecular mechanisms of p53-mediated cytoprotection in inflamed endothelium, 4) Hsp90 inhibition effects on vascular barrier function, and 5) Age-related differences in endothelial repair capacity.

Key Findings: His recent studies show that GHRH antagonists reduce LPS-induced lung injury by suppressing ROS production and stabilizing endothelial barriers. He has demonstrated UPR's dual role in modulating these processes and identified novel roles for p53 in redox regulation of vascular integrity. Collaborations involve translational approaches to apply these findings in sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) models.

Lab Affiliation: The Goodwin Lab at Yale School of Medicine focuses on vascular biology and translational research in critical care medicine. Dr. Akhter's work contributes to developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting endothelial dysfunction in inflammatory diseases.