Linda L. Demer, MD, PhD

LDemer@mednet.ucla.edu

Office: (310) 206-2677

Linda Demer is a Professor in the Departments of Medicine (Cardiology), Physiology and Bioengineering. She received her MD and PhD in bioengineering from Johns Hopkins.  She has over 35 years of research experience, with a focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular calcification and biological pattern formation. The research group she has shared with Dr. Yin Tintut since 1995 has had continuous NIH funding, and they have about 100 publications together. Dr. Demer has served as Associate Editor for Circulation Research and Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. She also serves on their Editorial Boards and that of Circulation.  She has served as President of the Association of Professors of Cardiology, the Western Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of University Cardiologists, and the North American Vascular Biology Organization. She also co-chaired the Gordon Research Conference on atherosclerosis.

Yin Tintut, PhD

YTintut@mednet.ucla.edu

Office: (310) 206-9964

Dr Tintut received her Ph.D. in the Department of Biochemistry at University of California, Los Angeles in 1995. She has since joined David Geffen School of Medicine as a faculty. She has secondary appointments in the Department of Physiology and Orthopaedic Surgery, serving as an organizer of Musculoskeletal Seminar Series, a Director of Physiology Teaching Laboratory, and a Safety Committee Chair for the Department of Physiology. She also serves as an Academic Editor at PLOS One and an Associate Editor for Atherosclerosis and Vascular Medicine at Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.  

Jeffrey Hsu, MD, PhD 

JJHsu@mednet.ucla.edu

Office: (310) 794-7105

Dr. Hsu is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and he is also an Affiliate Faculty Member of the UCLA Department of Bioengineering. He received his undergraduate education at MIT, where he double-majored in Mechanical Engineering and Biology, and he subsequently received a Masters of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering at MIT. He attended medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and completed his Internal Medicine residency training at UCSF Medical Center. He completed his General Cardiology and Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant fellowships at UCLA. He received his Ph.D. in the UCLA Molecular Cellular & Integrative Physiology department. In his free time, he enjoys running, biking, rooting for the Dodgers and Lakers, and spending time with his family and friends. 

Yonghong Meng, MD 

ymeng@mednet.ucla.edu

I have been an SRA in the Department of Cardiology in UCLA for more than 13 years. before I coming to UCLA, I worked as a research associate in Wayne State University and Medical College of Georgia for more than 10 years.  In my leisure time, I like to travel, cook, listen to music and watch movies.

Mimi Lu 

orialu@mednet.ucla.edu

I earned my Bachelor's degree in Physiological Science here at UCLA in 2018. I am excited to continue working in research as well as learning and growing in this lab. 

Andy Hon 

andyhon@g.ucla.edu

I am a 4th year biology major from Orange County, California. My main research interests include exploring heart function by echocardiography, investigating bone density using CT imaging, and analyzing atherosclerotic calcification. One of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far was working on experiments involving mice treadmill exercise regimens in our lab. When I’m not busy with my studies and research, I love riding dirtbikes, playing basketball with friends, and camping.

Sophia Kalanski 

sophiavk24@ucla.edu

I am currently a 4th year student majoring in psychobiology. I grew up in Irvine, California. Currently at the Demer-Tintut Laboratory, I study the effects of empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, on both spontaneous and TNF-a-induced osteoblastic differentiation and calcification of mouse aortic smooth muscle cells. I have loved my experience thus far exploring and contributing to the research aspects of medicine and want to continue doing research in my future professional career. I am currently on the pre-med track at UCLA and my professional goal is to become a physician. In my free time, I like to go on walks around Westwood, go to the beach, cliff jump, and get boba with friends!

Stuti Pradhan 

stutipradhan@g.ucla.edu

I am currently a 4th year Human Biology and Society student with a minor in Education Studies. I grew up in NorCal and was involved with Sports Medicine in high school. I also studied the design of substrates of aPKC (a protein commonly dysregulated in cancer) in order to create an effective pseudosubstrate inhibitor. Beginning in my first year of college, I joined the Cardiovascular Calcification Research Lab (CVCRL) and began researching the effects of Empagliflozin, a drug used to treat diabetes, on bone cells. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, dancing, and exploring new cafes in Santa Monica. 

Jonathan Phan  

jtlphan2020@g.ucla.edu

I am a 4th year undergraduate student majoring in Bioengineering (with a Mechanical Engineering technical breadth) and Life Sciences (still undeclared). Before moving to LA for university, I was originally from South Bay Area. In Dr. Hsu's lab, I am working on an AHA Long Covid project where I characterize the mechanistic role that viral fragments of SARS-CoV-2 play on endothelial cell inflammation. As an extension of my role in this project, I am also training to provide clinical research services where I coordinate appointments with patients to enroll them into this study and retrieve samples. Outside of Dr. Hsu’s research, I participate in population health research as part of Stanford’s CARE Scholars program. At UCLA, organizations I partake in include BMES, EMRA, and CityLab. In my spare time, I like to play board games, volleyball, and fuseball with family and friends. Other things I do for fun include making vlogs, hosting presentation nights, and watching Modern Family religiously.

Yuxuan Shirley Xia 

yuxuanxia@g.ucla.edu

I am a 3rd year undergraduate student enrolled in the Computational and Systems Biology program at UCLA, with a minor in Data Science Engineering. My primary academic focus revolves around the application of computational methodologies to address biological challenges. Currently, I am actively engaged in research related to image processing, data extraction, and statistical analysis of CT scans. Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy dedicating my free time to the company of exotic pets, engaging in the art of taxidermy, and pursuing my passion for painting.

Rahi Patel 

rahipatel01@g.ucla.edu

I am currently a 2nd year pre-med undergraduate student majoring in Human Biology and Society. I was born and raised in Anaheim, California. My professional goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon with a specialization in sports medicine. In my free time, I love to watch and root for Steph Curry, play basketball and tennis with my friends, listen to rap and hip-hop music, hang out with friends and grab food, and love to travel whenever I have the time to with family and friends.