Debra I. Diz, Ph.D
Professor and Director of Basic Sciences Research, Hypertension & Vascular Research Center; Professor, Surgical Sciences; Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology; Neuroscience Program
Hanes Building – 6th floor
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1032
Tel: 336-716-2150
Fax: 336-716-2456
Email: ddiz@wfubmc.edu
Education:
Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, BA, 1976
University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences, PhD, 1980
Research Topics:
Neuropharmacology of hypertension
Receptors
Aging and neural control of the circulation
Current Research:
Dr. Diz’s research has identified the neuroanatomical and transmitter pathways subserving angiotensin II actions in brain areas involved in baroreceptor reflex control of the circulation. Long-standing studies investigate neural and hormonal interactions in the kidney and alterations in responsiveness to angiotensin peptides in renal ischemia, hypertension and most recently during aging. Her research has been funded continuously by NIH, NHLBI since 1986. She was an Established Investigator of the AHA from 1989 to 1994. She is currently co-director of the Program Project Grant HL-51952. She has participated in NIH and AHA peer review systems since 1988 including the NHLBI Program Project Review Committee and the NIGMS Minority Access to Research Careers Review Committee. She has collaborations with many outside investigators including those at WSSU & NCCU to foster development of minority faculty and students in the biomedical sciences.
Selected Recent Publications:
Benter IF, Yousif MH, Dhaunsi GS, Kaur J, Chappell MC, Diz DI. Angiotensin-(1-7) prevents activation of NADPH oxidase and renal vascular dysfunction in diabetic hypertensive rats. Am J Nephrol 2008;28(1):25-33. Epub 2007 Sep 20.
Gilliam-Davis S, Payne VS, Kasper SO, Tommasi ER, Robbins ME, Diz DI. Long term AT1 receptor blockade improves metabolic function and provides renoprotection in Fischer 344 rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2007 Sep;293(3):H1327-33. Epub 2007 Jul 6.
Zhao W, Diz DI, Robbins ME. Oxidative damage pathways in relation to normal tissue injury. The Brit J Radiology 2007 Sept;80 Spec No 1:S2323-S31.
Benter IF, Yousif MH, Cojocel C, Al-Maghrebi M, Diz DI. Angiotensin-(1-7) prevents diabetes-induced cardiovascular dysfunction. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2007 Jan;292(1):H666-H672.
Awumey EM, Howlett AC, Putney Jr JW, Diz DI, Bukoshi RD. Ca(2+) mobilization through the dorsal root ganglion Ca(2+)-sensing receptor stably expressed in HEK293 cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2007 May;292(5):C1895-905. Epub 2007 Jan 31.
Diz DI, Kasper SO, Atsushi Sakima, Ferrario CM. Aging and the brain renin-angiotensin system: Insights from studies in transgenic rats. Cleveland Clinic J of Medicine 2007 Feb;74 Suppl 1:S95-98. Review.
Zhao W, Payne V, Tommasi E, Diz DI, Hsu FC, Robbins ME. Administration of the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist pioglitazone during fractionated brain irradiation prevents radiation-induced cognitive impairment. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007 Jan 1;67(1):6-9.
Shaltout HA, Westwood BM, Averill DB, Ferrario CM, Figueroa JP, Diz DI, Rose JC, Chappell MC. Angiotensin metabolism in renal proximal tubules, urine, and serum of sheep: evidence for ACE2-dependent processing of angiotensin II. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2007 Jan;292(1):F82-91.
Sakima A, Averill DB, Kasper SO, Jackson LM, Ganten D, Ferrario CM, Gallagher PE, Diz DI. Baroreceptor Reflex Regulation in Anesthetized Transgenic Rats with Low Glia-Derived Angiotensinogen. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007 Mar;292(3):H1412-9. Epub 2006 Nov3.
Diz DI. Approaches to establishing angiotensin II as a neurotransmitter revisited. Hypertension 2006 Mar;47(3):334-6.
Kasper SO, Ferrario CM, Ganten D, Diz DI. Rats with low brain angiotensinogen do not exhibit insulin resistance during early aging. Endocrine 2006 Oct;30(2):167-74.
Somasundaram C, Diz DI, Coleman T, Bukoski RD. Adventitial neuronal somata. J Vasc Res 2006;43(3):278-88.
Pendergrass KD, Averill DB, Ferrario CM, Diz DI, Chappell MC. Differential expression of nuclear AT1 receptors and angiotensin II within the kidney of the male congenic mRen2.Lewis rat. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2006 Jun;290(6):F1497-506.
Robbins ME, Diz DI. Pathogenic role of the renin-angiotensin system in modulating radiation-induced late effects. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Jan 1;64(1):6-12.
Kasper SO, Carter CS, Ferrario CM, Ganten D, Ferder LF, Sonntag WE, Gallagher PE, Diz DI. Growth, metabolism, and blood pressure disturbances during aging in transgenic rats with altered brain renin-angiotensin systems. Physiol Genomics. 2005 Nov 17;23(3):311-7.
Ferrario CM, Jessup J, Chappell MC, Averill DB, Brosnihan KB, Tallant EA, Diz DI, Gallagher PE. Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and angiotensin II receptor blockers on cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. Circulation. 2005 May 24;111(20):2605-10.
Kasper SO, Basso N, Kurnjek ML, Paglia N, Ferrario CM, Ferder LF, Diz DI. Divergent regulation of circulating and intra-renal renin-angiotensin systems in response to long-term blockade. Am J Nephrology 2005 Jul-Aug;25(4):335-341.
Carter CS, Cesari M, Ambrosius WT, Hu N, Diz D, Oden S, Sonntag WE, Pahor M. Angiotensin-converting ezyme inhibition, body composition, and physical performance in aged rats. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2004;59(5),B416-23.
Aileru AA, Ingram M, Ferrario CM, Ganten D, Averill DB, Diz DI. Alterations in sympathetic ganglionic transmission in response to angiotensin II in (mRen-2)27 transgenic rats. Hypertension 2004:43(2);270-275.
For a listing of additional publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.