Vivek Nanda, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology (MCP), is an active researcher in the UAB Department of Pathology. Dr. Nanda joined UAB in January 2020 from Stanford University in California where he was an instructor. Nanda earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Rochester in New York. In an effort to showcase the impactful contributions of UAB Pathology researchers, Nanda answers some questions about his areas of research and what led him to UAB.
What is your research focus?
My lab focuses on identifying the heritable component of a wide range of cardiovascular disease including atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm and peripheral artery disease. To this end, we utilize publicly available genome-wide genetic and bioinformatics resources in combination with in vitro and in vivo approaches to discover the implicated gene and associated signaling pathway.
How long have you worked in this area and what initially sparked your interest in it?
My interest in cardiovascular disease dates back to my graduate school training days when I witnessed an ex vivo technique which allowed a heart to beat for several hours outside of the body. I became fascinated by this unique methodology and its accompanying benefits, including the ability to determine the effects of different conditions (genetic or drug treatment) on heart function. That fascination and excitement set the tone of my research interest in cardiovascular disease.
What is a major accomplishment within your lab you would like to highlight?
The launch of my lab in 2020 coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, but despite those challenges, we have been successful in building a great team. We were able to generate strong preliminary data for a NIH sponsored R01 grant application, submitted in June 2022.
What were the key factors in your decision to join the Department of Pathology at UAB?
While there were several factors that influenced my decision to join the Department of Pathology at UAB, a few notable factors included, i) its longstanding collaborative environment, ii) support for mentoring and training young faculty and iii) responsiveness and commitment of the department’s leadership team.
When you’re not at work, what are some things you enjoy doing?
Given that my move to Birmingham coincided with the onset of the global pandemic, my family and I did not get an opportunity to explore the city. So, when not at work, we spend time exploring Birmingham and visiting local restaurants.
What is your favorite Birmingham restaurant?
I have a few i) Amore Ristorante Italiano, ii) Bamboo on 2nd and iii) Little Donkey