Nelson Ruiz-Opazo, PhD

Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Research interests span the molecular genetics of hypertension and target organ complications, and the identification of DEspR (the dual endothelin-1/signal peptide of VEGF receptor) as a novel therapeutic target in cancer with a focus on cancer stem cell (CSC) pathological extended survival in anoikis conditions and adverse metabolic conditions, CSC tumorigenicity and multipotential self-sufficiency to metastasize. More recently, inter-disciplinary collaborations advance translational research into the role of DEspR+ neutrophils in neutrophil-mediated secondary tissue injury relevant to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), COVID19-ARDS, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Research expertise spans molecular and cell biology analysis of cancer stem cells (CSC), CSC-derived tumor cell phenotypes, xenograft modeling using CSCs in nude rat strain, and conducting survival analysis to test efficacy and safety of novel targeted therapies in cancer focusing on high unmet need cancers – pancreatic peritoneal carcinomatosis, glioblastoma. In molecular genetics research, expertise spans GWAS analysis of F2-genetic hypertensive cohorts and associated candidate genes, GWAS analysis of genetic F2 intercross linkage studies of Learning and Memory and associated candidate genes, hypertension genetic studies in isolated human populations, transgenic rat modeling. In ARDS and ICH, expertise spans adaptive application of basic science approaches to ex vivo analysis of neutrophil subsets within the context of the pathological microenvironment present in the patient.

Publications

  • Published 10/16/2024

    Cross AL, Wright HL, Choi J, Edwards SW, Ruiz-Opazo N, Herrera VLM. Circulating neutrophil extracellular trap-forming neutrophils in rheumatoid arthritis exacerbation are majority dual endothelin-1/signal peptide receptor+ subtype. Clin Exp Immunol. 2024 Oct 16; 218(2):163-168. PMID: 39110036.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/18/2023

    Herrera VLM, Bosch NA, Lok JJ, Nguyen MQ, Lenae KA, deKay JT, Ryzhov SV, Seder DB, Ruiz-Opazo N, Walkey AJ. Circulating neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-forming 'rogue' neutrophil subset, immunotype [DEspR?+?CD11b?+], mediate multi-organ failure in COVID-19-an observational study. Transl Med Commun. 2023; 8(1):12. PMID: 37096233.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/15/2023

    Herrera VLM, Gromisch CM, Decano JL, Pasion KA, Tan GLA, Hua N, Takahashi CE, Greer DM, Ruiz-Opazo N. Anti-DEspR antibody treatment improves survival and reduces neurologic deficits in a hypertensive, spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (hsICH) rat model. Sci Rep. 2023 Feb 15; 13(1):2703. PMID: 36792616.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/1/2023

    Herrera VLM, Bosch NA, Lok JJ, Nguyen MQ, Lenae KA, deKay JT, Ryzhov SV, Seder DB, Ruiz-Opazo N, Walkey AJ. Circulating neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-forming 'rogue' neutrophil subset, immunotype [DEspR+CD11b+], mediate multi-organ failure in COVID-19 - an observational study. Res Sq. 2023 Feb 01. PMID: 36778407.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/7/2022

    Whitaker RD, Decano JL, Gormley C, Beigie CA, Meisel C, Tan GA, Moran AM, Giordano NJ, Park Y, Huang P, Andersson S, Gantz D, Grant AK, Ruiz-Opazo N, Herrera VLM, Wong JY. Janus USPION modular platform (JUMP) for theranostic ultrasound-mediated targeted intratumoral microvascular imaging and DNA/miRNA delivery. Theranostics. 2022; 12(18):7646-7667. PMID: 36451861.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 98 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University
  • Member, Genome Science Institute
    Boston University
  • Member, Ambulatory Pediatrics
    Boston University

Websites

Education

  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, PhD
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, MS
  • Universidad Austral de Chile, MS
  • Universidad Austral de Chile, BS

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