Yassine Sassi

Yassine Sassi, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Department of Internal Medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, particularly the roles of coding and non-coding RNAs and cyclic nucleotide pathways.

Research Interests: Dr. Sassi's work centers on pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis. His lab investigates how RNA molecules and signaling pathways contribute to disease progression and seeks to identify novel therapeutic targets. The research integrates molecular biology, cell culture, and animal models to uncover disease mechanisms and test potential treatments.

Publication Trends: His recent publications span high-impact journals such as Circulation, Nature Communications, and Science, reflecting a strong focus on RNA biology, epigenetics, and signal transduction in heart and lung diseases. The work increasingly emphasizes therapeutic development and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis and vascular remodeling.

• Transformational Project Award, American Heart Association, 2021
• Innovative Project Award, American Heart Association, 2018
• Career Development Award, American Heart Association, 2017
• Early Career Best Science Award Winner (1^st place), American Heart Association, 2014
• Best Poster Award (1^st place), Dutch-German Joint Meeting of Molecular Cardiology, 2013

Advising and Grants: Dr. Sassi mentors a multidisciplinary team of postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and medical students in the Sassi Lab. His research is supported by prestigious awards from the American Heart Association, enabling innovative projects in cardiovascular and pulmonary therapeutics. He has led and contributed to numerous collaborative studies, demonstrating strong leadership in both basic and translational research.

Labs and Teams: The Sassi Lab is part of the Center for Vascular and Heart Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. The lab fosters collaboration across disciplines and institutions, contributing to a vibrant research environment focused on advancing understanding and treatment of chronic heart and lung diseases.