Soban Umar

Soban Umar serves as a Professor-in-residence within the Department of Anesthesiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). His research program bridges anesthesiology, cardiology, and pulmonary medicine with a specialized focus on pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure mechanisms. Dr. Umar's work is characterized by its translational approach, moving from basic molecular mechanisms to potential clinical applications.

Dr. Umar's research interests encompass several interconnected domains in cardiovascular pathophysiology. His primary focus centers on pulmonary arterial hypertension, particularly investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying right ventricular failure. His work has made significant contributions to understanding sexual dimorphism in pulmonary hypertension, demonstrating the protective roles of both estrogen and the Y chromosome in disease pathogenesis. More recently, his laboratory has pioneered research on endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in right ventricular failure, identifying Snai1 as a critical transcription factor and LOXL2 as a key mediator in this process. His work on neuroinflammation in the thoracic spinal cord represents a novel frontier in understanding neural regulation of pulmonary vascular tone.

Analysis of Dr. Umar's publication trajectory reveals a clear evolution from foundational work on cardioprotection mechanisms (particularly with lipid emulsions) to increasingly sophisticated investigations of molecular pathways in pulmonary hypertension. His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on multi-omics approaches, single-cell analysis, and targeted therapeutic strategies. The research shows growing methodological complexity with integration of advanced imaging, transcriptomic, and epigenetic analyses to uncover disease mechanisms.

• Thomas M. Grove Chair in Anesthesiology, UCLA, 2023
• Assembly on Pulmonary Circulation Early Career Research Achievement Award, American Thoracic Society (ATS), 2021
• Dillon Award For outstanding performance as an Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, 2019
• Junior Faculty Research Award, Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA), 2017

Dr. Umar has secured substantial research funding to advance his work, including an NIH R01 grant (1R01HL161038-01A1, 2022-2027) as Principal Investigator investigating molecular mechanisms of right ventricular failure in pulmonary hypertension, and an NIH K08 grant (K08HL141995, 2019-2024) focused on the role of microRNA-125b in pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary fibrosis. His collaborative approach is evident in numerous multi-investigator studies across UCLA departments and institutions.

Dr. Umar leads the Umar Lab at UCLA, which employs a multidisciplinary research strategy combining molecular biology, physiology, genetics, and advanced imaging techniques to investigate pulmonary hypertension pathogenesis and identify novel therapeutic targets. The lab's work has significant translational potential, with several recent findings pointing toward promising new treatment approaches for pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure.