Congratulations to Katia Kontrogianni on her appointment as an American Heart Association Fellow!
Dr. Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos (pictured left) received her PhD from Baylor College of Medicine in Cell Biology. After completing her postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Dept. of Medicine, she advanced her expertise in striated muscle pathobiology as an Academic Fellow in the Dept. of Physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). In 2007, she joined the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the UMSOM as Assistant Professor and was promoted to Professor in 2017. Using the muscle and breast epithelial cells, her laboratory has pioneered the molecular and functional characterization of major cytoskeletal proteins in health and disease, ranging from cardiac and skeletal myopathies to breast cancer. Her group is well known for its seminal contributions in the understanding of the complex, gigantic, cytoskeletal protein obscurin as structural and signaling mediator in the heart and breast epithelium and the essential, multifaceted Myosin Binding Protein-C slow in maintaining skeletal muscle integrity and regulating contractility.
Her latest work in cardiac muscle explores three primary areas: (i) the novel roles of obscurin in maintaining atrial structure/function, while examining its involvement in atrial fibrillation and remodeling when mutated or truncated; (ii) the pathophysiological relevance of the newly identified obscurin-kinase-1/N-cadherin axis in contributing to the electrochemical coupling of cardiomyocytes and thus the synchronous beating of the heart; and (iii) the sex-dimorphic manifestation of heart disease, focusing on the intricate interplay of estrogen as cardioprotective and testosterone as exacerbating factors. Her seminal findings have been published in a series of manuscripts, which have appeared in leading journals, including Science Advances, Basic Research in Cardiology, Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight etc. Notably, her team recently contributed an outstanding “In Depth review” in the leading cardiovascular journal Circulation, titled “Sex chromosomes and sex hormones: dissecting the forces that differentiate female and male hearts”.
Her research has been continually funded by the American Heart Association (AHA), the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos has received several honors, including the prestigious 2018 UMB “Dr. Patricia Sokolove Outstanding Mentor” award, the 2023 “GPLS Teacher of the Year” award as well as “Teaching Commendation” awards for her contributions in medical school instruction. This year she was elected as a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) conferred by the AHA Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS). This “fellowship recognizes and awards premium professional members for excellence, innovative and sustained contributions in the areas of scholarship, practice and/or education, and volunteer service within the AHA/ASA”.
As Dr. Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos stated: “For the past two decades, I have had the great opportunity and pleasure to volunteer my professional services to the AHA, an experience that has profoundly shaped and enriched my academic journey. In addition to benefiting from funding support early on through the Grant-In-Aid and recently through the Transformational Award mechanism, my relationship with AHA transcends funding; it’s about forging everlasting bonds with colleagues who share a unified goal of advancing AHA's mission “…to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. As we move into the second century of our work, we are advancing health and hope for everyone, everywhere.” AHA has always felt like a true "home" to me, where I have eagerly embraced opportunities to learn, collaborate, volunteer, and contribute. This organization creates an environment where I am consistently welcomed, valued, and inspired to do my best. My recent election as FAHA is a distinguished honor and privilege, which further bolsters my resolve to combat heart disease through multidisciplinary, open-minded, and transparent research, mentor the next generation of cardiovascular scientists, and improve the quality of life for all.”
News & Events
2025
July 2025
Grants & Contracts
Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM, was given the American Heart Association-Transformational Award for “Deciphering the sex hormone dependence of cardiomyopathy driven by obscurin-Ig58/59 deletion”.
Publications
Alexander Drohat, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the corresponding author on “Characterizing the excision of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine by thymine DNA glycosylase”, published in J Biol Chem; 301. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110363.
Jonathan Fay, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was a contributing author on “The polypharmacology of psychedelics reveals multiple targets for potential therapeutics.”, published in Neuron. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.06.012.
June 2025
Publications
Lakshmi Swarna Mukhi Pidugu, PhD, a research associate in the lab of Alexander Drohat, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the first author on “Observing nucleotide flipping in DNA using indirect 2′-F nucleotide probes and 19F NMR ”, published in Nucleic Acids Research; 53(11). DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaf492.
David Weber, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the corresponding author on “Pore formation by the CDTb component of the Clostridioides difficile binary toxin is Ca2+-dependent”, published in Commun Biol; 8(901). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08343-x
Kundan Sivashanmugan, PhD, a research associate in the lab of Joseph Lakowicz, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the first author on “Re-direction of surface plasmon-coupled emission using metallic nanoparticles.”, published in Materials Letters; 398. DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.138981.
Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the corresponding author on “Sex-dependent and muscle-specific progression of the MYBPC1 E248K Myotrem myopathy in response to aging", published in JCI Insight. DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.182471.
May 2025
Presentations, Events, Lectures & Workshops
Adam Sowalsky, PhD, head of the Prostate Cancer Genetics section of the Genitourinary Malignancies Branch in the NCI’s Center for Cancer Research, was the guest lecturer for The 9th Gerard J. Barcak Memorial Lecture, presenting on “Novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in advanced prostate cancer”.
This lecture is held in honor of the late Gerard J. Barcak, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at UMSOM, who passed in 2007 after a long battle with prostate cancer. Dr. Barcak was a dedicated advocate of the School of Medicine graduate and medical education missions. He is remembered well for his abilities as an educator and mentor, as well as a committed family man.
Publications
Jennifer Megan Mariano, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow working in the lab of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the first author of “Pulsatile Myofilament Activity in Myotrem Myopathy Associated with Myogenic Tremor”, published in Int. J. Mol. Sci.; 26(11). DOI: 10.3390/ijms26115252.
Joseph Lakowicz, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the corresponding author on “On the Possibility of Fluorescent Capture Immunoassays on a Contact Lens”, published in Biosensors (Basel); 15(5). DOI: 10.3390/bios15050326
April 2025
Doctoral Defense
Mitasha S. Palha, PhD, working in the lab of of Joseph Kao, PhD, Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, UMSOM, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on "Applications of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) in Biomedical Research" on April 30th, 2025. Congratulations to Dr. Palha!
Publications
Aishwarya Iyer, PhD, working in the lab of of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the first author on “The Impact of Heritable Myopathies on Gastrointestinal Skeletal Muscle Function”, published in Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol; 19(8). DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2025.101522.
March 2025
Doctoral Defense
Aishwarya Iyer, PhD, working in the lab of of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on "From bedside to bench – Unraveling the role of MYBPC1 in Health and Disease" on March 14th, 2025. She now continues her professional training toward her doctorate of medicine. Congratulations to Dr. Iyer!
Publications
Nina Lee, (PhD Candidate), working in the lab of of Gerald Wilson, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the first author on “Unstructured protein domains stabilize RNA binding and mediate RNA folding by AUF1”, published in J Biol Chem; 301(5). DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108442.
February 2025
Publications
Annie Brong, (PhD Candidate), working in the lab of of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the first author on “Sex chromosomes and sex hormones: dissecting the forces that differentiate female and male hearts”, published in Circulation; 151(7). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.069493.
January 2025
Publications
Alyssa Grogan, PhD, working in the lab of of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the first author on “Constitutive deletion of the obscurin-Ig58/59 domains induces atrial remodeling and Ca2+-based arrhythmogenesis”, published in JCI Insight; 10(4). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.184202
2024
November 2024
Presentations, Events, Lectures & Workshops
Annie Brong, (PhD Candidate), working in the lab of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM, was invited to present at the American Heart Association's 2024 Scientific Sessions.
October 2024
Honors and Awards
S. Saif Hasan, PhD; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UMSOM, was presented with Teacher of the Year award at the 2024 Graduate Program in Life Sciences/Office of Postdoctoral Scholars Awards Ceremony.
Presentations, Events, Lectures & Workshops
Bryan Roth, MD/PhD; Michael Hooker Distinguished Professor Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School presented at the 32nd Steinberg/Wylie Lecture Series on the topic of “Drug Discovery Meets AI”.
September 2024
Presentations, Events, Lectures & Workshops
Emmanuel Asiedu (PhD Candidate; NIH-IMSD Meyerhoff Graduate Fellow) and Hugo Bibollet (PhD Candidate; Graduate research assistant) both presented talks at the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Student Presentations, on the topics of "The role of angiopoietin-like 4 in DNA repair pathways and cisplatin resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma” and "CaV1.1 voltage sensor tracking through functional site-directed fluorometry in muscle fibers", respectively.
Ryan Gumpper, PhD; Research Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, SOM University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill presented a talk at the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology’s Fall Seminar Series titled "Molecular insights of psychedelic mediated 5HT2A signaling".
August 2024
Publications
Karndeep Singh, (PhD Candidate), working in the lab of Michael Summers, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UMSOM, contributed to “Role of RNA structural plasticity in modulating HIV-1 genome packaging and translation” (S. Yasin et al), published August 13th in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 121(33). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407400121
July 2024
Grants & Contracts
Amara Ejikemeuwa, (PhD Candidate; NIH-IMSD Meyerhoff Graduate Fellow) was awarded a T32 Training Grant in Cancer Biology.
Annie Brong, (PhD Candidate), working in the lab of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM, was awarded a Keystone Symposia (J1) Future of Science Fund scholarship.
Presentations, Events, Lectures & Workshops
Annie Brong, (PhD Candidate), working in the lab of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM, gave an oral presentation at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2024 Scientific Sessions. Her talk was on the topic of “Constitutive Deletion of the Obscurin Ig58/59 Domains Induces Structural and Electrophysiological Remodeling in Atria.”
June 2024
Honors and Awards
Matthew Eason, (MD/PhD Candidate), working in lab of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was awarded 2nd Prize for his submission in the 16th Annual Graduate Translational Research competition. Eason’s project focuses on how to utilize the protein obscurin to construct a new and effective therapy that inhibits metastatic spread of breast cancer tumors.
Publications
Aishwarya Iyer, (MD/PhD Candidate), working in the lab of of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was the corresponding author on “Compound heterozygous variants in MYBPC1 lead to severe distal arthrogryposis type-1 manifestations”, published June 5th in Cell (191). DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148339
May 2024
Honors and Awards
David J. Weber, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM was recognized with the designation of Distinguished University Professor, the highest appointment bestowed on a faculty member at UMB. He, and the five other members of this year’s cohort, will be celebrated and receive their Distinguished University Professor medals during UMB’s third annual Faculty Convocation on Sept. 12.
Presentations, Events, Lectures & Workshops
Aishwarya Iyer, (MD/PhD Candidate), working in the lab of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM, was an Invited/Selected ECI Moderator at the Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison 2024 Myofilament Meeting. At the same meeting, she was awarded Best Early Career Investigator (ECI) Trainee Oral Presentation.
April 2024
Grants and Contracts
Richard Thompson, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM and Huihui Zeng, PhD, Research Associate, UMSOM are the lead inventor and co- inventor, respectively, of “Methods for Detecting and/or Predicting Age- Related Macular Degeneration and/or Alzheimer’s Disease,” which was issued European patents in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom on April 3.
Michal Zalzman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM and Rodney Taylor, MD, MPH, Professor, UMMS are the lead inventor and co-inventor, respectively, of “Methods for Generating Multipotent Stem Cells from Tonsillar Biopsies,” which was issued a U.S. patent on April 16.
Honors and Awards
Spiro Sevdalis (PhD Candidate), while working in David J. Weber, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM, was awarded a travel stipend by END and funded by Norell to attend the 65th Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference.
Noha Ghonim, (PhD Candidate), was awarded Outstanding Oral Presentation in the in the 46th Annual Graduate Research Conference of University of Maryland.
March 2024
Honors and Awards
Aishwarya Iyer, (MD/PhD Candidate), working in the lab of of Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM, was the 9th Recipient of the Attillo R. and Myrtle L. Jackson Award. This annual award recognizes a PhD or MD/PhD candidate whose outstanding meritorious service to humanity is continually demonstrated by ongoing acts of generosity and kindness.
Publications
Michal Zalzman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM published “Reprogramming Chromosome Ends by Functional Histone Acetylation”, in Int J Mol Sci, 25(7). DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073898.
January 2024
Publications
Michal Zalzman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UMSOM published “DeepFreeze 3D‐biofabrication for Bioengineering and Storage of Stem Cells in Thick and Large‐Scale Human Tissue Analogs”, in Advanced Science, 11(11). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306683.
Honors and Awards
Noha Ghonim, (PhD Candidate), took 2nd Prize in the Poster Presentation Awards for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program Annual Retreat.