Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine

Ramesh Natarajan

Ramesh Natarajan
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth University, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, USA

Biography

Dr. Natarajan is the author of more than 80 original peer reviewed research articles as well as review articles, podcasts and book chapters. He has received numerous research awards from multiple agencies including NIH. Dr. Natarajan’s research achievements in inflammation and cardiac ischemia-reperfusion have concentrated on the molecular regulation of cellular processes. Following his promotion to Assistant Professor in the VCU PCCM Division, Dr. Natarajan reported a novel pathway whereby stabilization of the HIF-1 dimer via prolyl hydroxylase inhibition (using novel small interfering RNA technology or a chemical agent) ameliorates post-ischemic myocardial injury. Following his promotion to Associate Professor in the VCU PCCM Division, Dr. Natarajan pursued his interest in sepsis and acute lung injury. Dr. Natarajan's ground breaking work with parenteral administration of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) for treatment of sepsis has been translated from the bench to the bedside with a Phase I Clinical Trial. This trial showed that parenteral administration of ascorbic acid had no adverse effects and elicited a reduction in multiple organ damage as well as mortality in patients with severe sepsis. A multi-center Phase II trial examining this treatment regimen is currently underway. Dr. Natarajan has also published extensively on the molecular regulation of right ventricular failure following pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Research Interest

His research interests include Sepsis, trauma, acute lung injury, ischemia-reperfusion, inflammation, pulmonary hypertension, emphysema, gene regulation.