Our laboratory’s research focus entails the investigation of neural cardiovascular control in human health and disease with a specific emphasis on the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. We have multiple ongoing projects in healthy subjects with a particular focus on racial disparities and the prevalence of hypertension.
We also perform studies in patients with various pathophysiological conditions such as type 2 diabetes. These studies are designed to better understand the role of insulin-mediated vasodilation in glucose uptake within skeletal muscle and how impairments may contribute to hyperglycemia with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.
CURRENT STUDIES
Lab Members of Fall ’23
Lab Members (from left to right Taha Alhalimi, Rie Conley, Prema Velusamy, Ziba Taherzadeh, Nicole Garza, Claire Trotter, Theresa Biju, Dr. Paul J Fadel)
Director
Contact Dr. Paul J. Fadel
Paul J Fadel, PhD, Director, Human Neural Cardiovascular Control Lab Professor, Department of Kinesiology Associate Dean for Research, CONHI
Center for Research and Scholarship
Postdoctoral Fellows
Taha Alhalimi hails from Dammam, a coastal city in Saudi Arabia. He joined the Human Neural Cardiovascular Control laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow in the summer of 2023. His academic foundation, rooted in healthcare, includes a bachelor’s in physical therapy and a master’s in clinical exercise physiology. As a physical therapist, he dealt with various medical conditions, from short-term rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries to prolonged rehabilitation of patients with neurological and cardiac disorders. He received his doctoral degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Texas at Austin. His dissertation focused on validating arterial stiffness measurements under various conditions, a relatively new measure to predicate cardiovascular disease risk, aiming to prepare it for clinical practice. Beyond the laboratory, you will find Taha playing on a racquetball court, cruising the roads on his motorbike, or hiking and exploring the wonders of natural landscapes.
Claire Trotter grew up in Vermont before moving to Dallas, Texas to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU) for her undergrad degree in Applied Physiology. She started as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Human Neural Cardiovascular Control Lab in August 2023. Prior to arriving at UT Arlington, she received a master’s in biology from University of Colorado – Colorado Springs in 2018 and a PhD in Applied Physiology in 2023 from SMU. Her dissertation work investigated alterations to cardiovascular control in females with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis at rest and during stress. Claire’s research interests include cardiovascular autonomic regulation in clinical populations and non-pharmacological interventions to successfully treat chronic disease. Outside of the lab, Claire enjoys running and spending time with her family and two dogs, Archer and Ellie.
Prema Velusamy, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow
Prema Velusamy originally from India and joined the Fadel lab in August 2022 as a postdoctoral fellow. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Biochemistry from Bharathiar University, India and her PhD in Medical Biochemistry from University of Madras, India. She received the University Grants Commission research fellowship and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Research Associate fellowship for her dissertation work exploring the pathways involved in ROS-induced cardiac hypertrophy. She did her first postdoctoral fellowship at Penn State University focusing on mitochondrial ion homeostasis in cardiovascular disease. Prema’s research focuses on the interaction between the immune system and sympathetic nervous system. She is currently working on a collaborative project with the Integrative Immunology lab at UT Arlington to study the role of T cells and sympathetic nervous system in the development of age-related vascular dysfunction. Outside of the lab, Prema enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, cooking, and traveling to new places.
PhD Student
Ziba Taherzadeh graduated as a top student with her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2021. She joined the Human Neural Cardiovascular Control Lab in Fall 2022 as a PhD student in Kinesiology and a research assistant. Ziba’s research interest and goals revolve around using translational and applied methods to further understand neural cardiovascular control in health and diseases. She attended American Physiology Summit 2023 and Texas American College of Sports Medicine 2023 Conference and presented her research on racial differences in cardiac baroreflex sensitivity. Currently, she is leading studies investigating racial differences in autonomic and cardiovascular control and cerebral blood flow regulation during rest and exercise. Outside of academia, Ziba enjoys listening to audiobooks, watching movies, exercising, and reading non-fiction and Persian poetry books.
Research Coordinator
Nicole Garza, B.S., Research Coordinator I
Nicole Garza, a lifelong resident of Texas, is the research coordinator for the Human Neural Cardiovascular Control lab. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2022, and plans to attend medical school. Nicole joined the Fadel lab in 2021 through the NIDDK STEP-UP program, where she had the opportunity to investigate the effects of COVID-19, persistent symptomatology, and time since diagnosis on cardiac autonomic function. Nicole presented her findings at Experimental Biology 2022 and received the Janet and Robert Speth Undergraduate Research Award. She attended American Physiology Summit 2023 Conference and presented her research investigating the effects of traumatic brain injury on cardiac autonomic function. Nicole has facilitated recruitment, data collection, and analysis for spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability for projects on individuals with COVID-19, concussions, and chronic kidney disease. Nicole’s current research goals are to identify therapies and practices for improving the health of older adults. Outside the lab, Nicole enjoys caring for her plants and drawing on her tablet.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Theresa Biju, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Theresa Biju is originally from Kerala, India and joined the lab in the summer of 2022 as a research assistant. She was funded by the American Heart Association as part of the SURPINT program in 2022 and is currently funded by the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at the University of Texas at Arlington. She focuses on understanding blood pressure variability in patients with type 2 diabetes and presented an abstract on this research at the American Physiological Summit in 2023 and is currently working on blood pressure variability related to obesity. She serves as the fundraising coordinator for Minority Association of Pre-medical Students at UTA. In her free time, Theresa enjoys watching movies, spending time with her friends, and volunteering at a medical clinic in Arlington. Theresa will graduate in December 2023 with her BS in Biology and a minor in Spanish. She has been accepted to medical school for the 2024 cohort.
Rie Conley, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Rie Conley is from Enid, Oklahoma and is currently pursuing both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree within the fast-track program in the biology department at UT Arlington. Rie embarked on her research journey in May 2023 when she was selected for participation in the highly competitive SURPINT program. Recognized for her adeptness in addressing technological challenges, Rie excels in troubleshooting. Furthermore, she demonstrates a proficiency in data analysis, particularly focused on nerve data. Prior to her research role, Rie honed her teaching skills as an educator at an Arlington-based private institution, where she delivered instruction across a spectrum of subjects, including Environmental Science, Animal Science, and Pre-Algebra. Rie also assumed leadership roles within the school, overseeing both the D&D Club and 4H, exemplifying her commitment to engagement and mentorship. Beyond her academic and research pursuits, Rie contributes to the community as a Game Moderator (GM) at local conventions for tabletop role-playing games. Using gaming as a medium to community build, she has also undertaken the initiative of organizing successful gaming fundraising events that benefit local charities.