Assistant Professor, Physiology
Assistant Professor, Surgery
Education:
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Sao Paulo State University, BOTUCATU, SP, Brazil, 2004 (B.Sc., 1st class honors)
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Campinas State University, CAMPINAS, SP, Brazil, 2007 (M.Sc. Cell and Structural Biology)
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Michigan State University, 2013 (Ph.D. Pharmacology and Toxicology)
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Michigan State University, 2014 ( Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology)
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University of Nevada SOM, 2018 (Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacology)
Honors and Awards:
- Horacio Passos Diploma – Awarded to the student with the highest GPA in the 2004 class of the Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences – Sao Paulo State University, 2004
- The Caroline tum Suden/Frances A. Hellebrant Professional Opportunity Award, 2010
- Future Academic Scholars in Teaching (FAST) Fellowship, Michigan State University, 2011
- APS Cardiovascular Section Young Investigator Research Recognition Award, 2012
- ASPET Graduate Student Travel Award, 2012
- ASPET Third Place in the Best Graduate Student Abstract Competition – Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 2013
- APS Minority Travel Award, 2015
- Travel Award for Junior Investigators – International Stroke Conference, 2016
- Steven M. Horvath Professional Opportunity Award – Experimental Biology, 2016
- Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship – Gordon Research Conference on Calcium Signaling, 2017
- APS Cardiovascular Section Second Place in the Young Investigator Award Competition – Experimental Biology, 2018
Major Areas of Research Interest:
Research in the Pires lab focuses on understanding the regulation of blood flow to the brain under normal and disease states. We are particularly interested in the communication between neurons, astrocytes (a type of glial cells) and endothelial cells that control blood flow to discrete regions of the cerebral cortex, a process called neurovascular coupling. Disease states, such as Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension, are known to alter neurovascular coupling in the brain, leading to improper blood flow delivery to neurons and, consequently, loss of brain cells and cognitive decline. Our lab studies particular receptors in endothelial cells that have their function diminished by Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension, and possible therapies that can improve their function.
Selected Publications:
Pires PW, Earley S. Neuroprotective effects of TRPA1 channels in the cerebral endothelium following ischemic stroke. Elife. Sep 21;7. pii: e35316, 2018. doi: 10.7554/eLife.35316. PMID: 30239332.
Pritchard HAT, Pires PW, Yamasaki E, Thakore P, Earley S. Nanoscale remodeling of ryanodine receptor cluster size underlies cerebral microvascular dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Sep 4. pii: 201804593, 2018. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1804593115. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 30181262.
Pires PW, McClain JL, Hayoz SF, Dorrance AM. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism prevents obesity-induced cerebral artery remodeling and reduces white matter injury in rats. Microcirculation, 25(5):e12460, 2018.
Pritchard HAT, Gonzales AL, Pires PW, Drumm BT, Ko EA, Sanders KM, Hennig GW, Earley S. Microtubule structures underlying the sarcoplasmic reticulum support peripheral coupling sites to regulate smooth muscle contractility. Science Signaling, 10(497). Pii eaan2694, 2017.
Pires PW*, Ko EA*, Pritchard HAT*, Rudokas M, Yamasaki E, Earley S. The angiotensin II receptor type 1b is the primary sensor of intraluminal pressure in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. The Journal of Physiology, 595(14): 4735-4753, 2017.
Matin N*, Pires PW*, Garver H, Jackson WF, Dorrance AM. DOCA-Salt Hypertension Impairs Artery Function in Rat Middle Cerebral Artery and Parenchymal Arterioles. DOCA-salt hypertension impairs artery function in rat middle cerebral artery and parenchymal arterioles. Microcirculation, 23(7):571-579, 2016.
Pires PW, Dabertrand F, Earley S. Isolation and cannulation of mouse cerebral parenchymal arterioles. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 111, 2016.
Sponsored Research Through MSRP:
Iliya Panfilenko, (MSRP 2021): "Cervical Lymphatic Vessels as Pathways For Amyloid-Beta Clearance."
NIH Undergraduate Diversity Program:
Felipe Polk, 2020, "Detecting Specific Expression of Proteins in Lymphatic Tissue"
Yasmin Almazan, 2021, "Effects of TRPv4 Activation in Mouse Superficial Cervical Lymphatic Vessel Contractility and Expression of TRPv4 mRNA in mouse superficial cervical lymphatic vessels "
Viktoras Sangster-Biye, 2022, "Questioning Science in the Lab"; 2023, "Understanding vascular physiology under angiopathic conditions while exploring possible therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s Disease."
NIH High School Student Research Program:
Natalya Begaye, Greyhills Academy (Tuba City, AZ), 2020
Viktoras Sangster-Biye, Globe High School (Globe, AZ), 2020, 2021
Maria Campos Tapia, Pueblo High School, 2022, 2023
Umar Mohd Rizal, Flowing Wells High School, 2022
Friday, February 28, 2020
Committee Member:
Committee Ex-officio