Tzung Hsiai

Tzung Hsiai

PROFESSOR
BIOENGINEERING

Professor, Graduate Programs in Bioscience

11301 Wilshire Blvd. 111E, Los Angeles, CA 90073

Email: thsiai@mednet.ucla.edu
Phone: (310) 268-3839
Fax:

Websites

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Dr. Hsiai received his undergraduate education from Columbia University and his MD from the University of Chicago. He completed his internship, residency and NIH-funded cardiovascular fellowship at UCLA School of Medicine, during which he also obtained a PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2001. Dr. Hsiai is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. He also holds a joint appointment with the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at the Department of Bioengineering. His research program is funded by the National Institutes of Health and American Heart Association. He is the Chair of the American Physiological Society Joint Meeting with Biomedical Engineering Society, Member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, a Fellow of Americal College of Cardiology, and the recipient of an NIH Physician-Scientist Career Development Award and an American Heart Association John J. Simpson Outstanding Research Achievement Award.
RESEARCH AND INTERESTS
My current research interest focuses on mechanobiology of cardiovascular diseases. Our group has demonstrated the first quantitative approach to changes in intravascular shear stress (ISS) with vascularnulloxidative stress in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit and swine models. We have demonstrated that spatial (/x) and temporal (/t) variations in shear stress modulate post-translational oxidative modifications of low density lipoprotein protein (LDL) and mechano-signal  transduction of mitochondrial redox states. These findings led to our first joint textbook for the field of mechanotransduction entitled “Hemodynamics & Mechanobiology of Endothelium”.  By deploying micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors, we have demonstrated that the integration of ISS and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) identifies pre-atherogenic lesions associated nullwith oxidative stress in fat-fed NZW rabbits. We have further revealed that spatial (/x) and temporal (/t) variations in shear stress modulated oxidative stress of pro-inflammatory substrates; namely,  oxidation of low density lipoprotein protein (LDL) and formation of macrophages/form cells. These findings led to the  observation that oxidized lipids and macrophages caused distinct electrochemical properties in the vessel wall that can be measured by EIS. In this context, we are seeking to (1) characterize lipid-rich lesions via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, (2) integrate shear stress (ISS), ultrasound (IVUS), and electrochemical impedance (EIS) for detection of lesions prone to rupture, and (3) determine the in vivo risk of rupture in high EIS plaque experienced high shear stress in a swine model.
Our laboratory has been inspired by the developmental biologists for their seminal contribution to
nullcardiovascular medicine using the zebrafish heart system. In collaboration with Dr.  Ellen Lien (CHLA), Dr. Neil Chi (UCSD), and Dr. Shung (USC NIH Ultrasonic Transducer Resource Center), we have developed micro-ECG approached to assess electrical phenotypes in regenerating zebrafish hearts, and we have incorporated pulsed-wave Doppler to assess electromechanical coupling of myocardium in real-time. In collaboration with Dr. Chih-Ming Ho (UCLA), we are further developing time-dependent 3-D imaging (x, y, z, t) to elucidate the mechanotransduction mechanisms underlying cardiac
null
 morphogenesis. Our joint efforts have demonstrated the use of zebrafish system formechanotransduction and electromechanical coupling in injured and regenerating hearts.
NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS
  1. Hwang, J., Ing, M., Salazar, A., Navab, M. Sevanian, A., Hsiai*, T. Pulsatile vs. oscillatory flow regulates NADPH Oxidase Subunit: Implication for Native LDL Oxidation. Circulation Research, 2003; 93:1225-1232.
  2. Takabe, W., Li, R., Yu F, Li A, Berliner, J., Hsiai* TK. Oxidized LDL-Activated JNK Regulates Mn-SOD Ubiquitination: Implication for Mitochondrial Redox Status and Apoptosis. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2010;30:436-441.
  3. Ai L, Zhang L, Dai W, Shung KK, Hsiai*, TK.. Real-time Assessment of Flow Reversal in an Eccentric Arterial Stenotic Model. J Biomechanics 2010 Oct 19;43(14):2678-83.
  4. Takabe W, Jen N, Ai L, Hamilton R, Khalsa B, Darbandi F, Bressler S, Barr M, Li R, Hsiai* TK. Oscillatory Shear Stress Induces Mitochondrial Superoxide Production: Implication of NADPH Oxidase and c-Jun NH2-terminal Kinase Signaling. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 2011 Sep 1;15(5):1379-88  PMID: 20919940
  5. Fei Yu, Juhyun Lee, Nelson Jen, Xiang Li, Qiang Zhang, Rui Tang, Qifa Zhou, E.S. Kim, Tzung Hsiai*, Elevated Electrochemical Impedance in the Endoluminal Regions with High Shear Stress:  Implication for Assessing Lipid-Rich Atherosclerotic Lesions. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 2013 May 15;43:237-44. PMCID: PMC3594425
  6. Nelson Jen, Fei Yu, Steve Wusmund, Mohamed Hamden, Tzung Hsiai*. Atrial Fibrillation Pacing Decreases Intravascular Shear Stress in a New Zealand White Rabbit Model: Implications in Endothelial Function. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology. 2013 Jun;12(4):735-745.
  7. Rongsong Li, Mohamad Navab, Zhi Ning, Payam Pakbin, Greg Hough, Kaveh Navab, Fei Yu, Nelson, Todd Morgan, Caleb Finch, Alan Fogelman, Constantinos Sioutas, Tzung Hsiai*. Ambient Ultrafine Particles Alter Lipid Metabolism and HDL Anti-Oxidant Capacity in LDLR-null Mice. Journal of Lipid Research. 2013 Jun;54(6):1608-15.
  8. Juhyun Lee, Mahdi Esmaily-Moghadam, Ethan Kung, Hung Cao, Tyler Beebe, Longhou Fang, Yuri Miller, Ching-Ling Lien, Neil C. Chi, Alison L. Marsden, and Tzung K. Hsiai*.  Moving Domain Computational Fluid Dynamics to Interface with An Embryonic Zebrafish Model of Cardiac Morphogenesis. PLoS ONE 2013 Aug 23;8(8):e72924
  9. Hsiai T, Li S, Bursac N. Introduction to the Special Issue on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Ann Biomed Eng. 2014. Volume 42, Issue 7 (2014), Page 1355-1356.
  10. Cao H, Fei Yu, Yu Zhao, SCianmarello N, Lee J, Dai W, Jen N, Beebe T, Li R, Ebrahimi R, Chang DS, Mody FV, John Pacella, Yuchong Tai, Tzung Hsiai*. Stretchable Electrochemical Impedance Sensors for Intravascular Detection of Lipid-Rich Lesions in New Zealand White Rabbits. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 2014 Apr 15;54:610-6.
  11. Michael Dickover, Jeffrey M. Hegarty, Kim Ly, Diana Lopez, Hongbo Yang, Ruilin Zhang, Neil Tedeschi, Tzung K. Hsiai, and Neil C. Chi. The atypical Rho GTPase, RhoU, regulates cell-adhesion molecules during cardiac morphogenesis. Developmental Biology. 2014 May 15;389(2):182-91.
  12. Hung Cao, Fei Yu, Yu Zhao, Joy Tai, Juhyun Lee, Ali Darehzereshki, Ellen C. Lien, Neil C. Chi, Yu-Chong Tai, Tzung K. Hsiai*. Wearable multi-channel microelectrode membranes to elucidate electrophysiological phenotypes of injured myocardium. Integrative Biology.  2014 Jun 19. [Epub ahead of print]
  13. Rongsong Li, Kaveh Navab, Greg Hough, Payam Pakbin, Eytan Wine, Jesus Araujo, Alan Fogelman, Constantinos Sioutas, Mohamed Navab, Tzung Hsiai*. Exposure to Atmospheric Ultrafine Particles Modulate Intestinal Lipid Peroxidation. Environmental Health Perspectives (in press)
  14. Hung Cao, Juhyun, Lee, Bong Kang, Nelson Jen, Kirk K. Shung, Tzung Hsiai*, Hemodynamics and Ventricular Function In a Zebrafish Model of Injury and Repair. Zebrafish (in press)
  15. Fei Yu, Wakako Takabe, Michael Harrison, Nelson Jen, Taylor Bebee, Juhyun Lee, Hung Cao, Peidong Han, Ching-Ling Lien, Rongsong Li, Neil C. Chi, Tzung K. Hsiai*. Shear Stress-Activated Wnt-Angiopoeitin-2 Signaling Recapitulates Vascular Development and Repair in Zebrafish Embryos. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (in press)
EDUCATION
  • B.S., Columbia University
  • M.D., University of Chicago
  • Ph.D., UCLA, 2001
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
  • 2013-present       Member, NIH Bioengineering, Technology and Surgical Sciences Study Section
  • 2012                   Zumberge Award for NIBIB T32 Training Grant Preparation at USC
  • 2011                   Viterbi School of Engineering Innovation Fund
  • 2010-present      Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation
  • 2008                   Member, Western Society for Clinical Investigation
  • 2007                   UCLA SEAS Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
  • 2007                   Zumberge Interdisciplinary Award for USC Cardiovascular Research Core
  • 2006                   Junior Faculty Research Award, School of EngineeringUniversity of Southern California
  • 2005                   American Society of Clinical Investigation/Association of American Physicians Joint Meeting Award
  • 2005                   Fellow, American College of Cardiology
  • 2004                   Finalist, Irvine H. Page Young Investigator Research Award, American Heart Association
  • 2003                   Zumberge Research Award, University of Southern California
  • 2002                   National Institutes of Health, Career Development Award (K08 HL068689-01A1)
  • 2002                   John J. Sampson Outstanding Research Award, American Heart Association
  • 2001                    UCLA Chancellor’s Funds for Academic Border Crossing
  • 2001                   American Physiologic Society/Cardiovascular Section Young Investigator Award, Orlando, FL
  • 2001                   American College of Cardiology/Bristol-Myers Squibb Cardiology Fellow Award, Orlando, FL
  • 1997                   School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, UCLA, Johnson Memorial Scholarship
  • 1996-2001          UCLA STAR Fellowship: NIH NRSA (HL07895)
  • 1994                   Finalist, American College of Physicians, Atlanta, GA
  • 1989-93              University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Medical Student Scholarship
  • 1989                   Columbia University President’s Award for Community Services
  • 1989                   American Chapter of Chemical Engineering and Tau Beta Pi
  • 1984                   Faculty Scholar, Arts and Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada