FACULTY LIST

David R. Harder, Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Cardiovascular Research Center

Associate Dean for Research

Kohler Co. Endowed Chair
Phone: (414) 456-5611 
Email: dharder@mcw.edu
M.S. Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1975
Ph.D. Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1976

Our research interests are centered around characterization of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of muscle cell contraction, particularly arteriole muscle, and the modification of these mechanisms by endothelial factors, neurotransmitters, and endogenous vasoactive agents. We use intracellular electrophysiological recording from muscle cells within intact arterial segments utilizing standard glass microelectrodes to study these phenomena. Cultured vascular muscle and endothelial cells are studied by voltage and patch-clamp techniques for analysis of ionic events.

"Vascular Signaling by Free Radicals" is one of our group's initiatives. Free radicals are highly reactive agents produced in normal biological processes through the body's use of oxygen. This vascular biology initiative is analyzing how free radicals induce cell death within vessels, and how they modify normal vascular function. Another initiative focuses on the mechanisms controlling cerebral circulation and disease states such as stroke and neuronal damage found in Alzheimer's disease. Two clinical trials underway in the Cardiovascular Center involve the study of gliomas, tumors that originate in the brain or spinal cord. Center investigators are testing specific drugs that may lead to therapies that will reduce or eliminate the tumors  

Recent Publications:
Athirakul K, Bradbury Dagger JA, Graves JP, Degraff LM, Ma J, Zhao Y, Couse JF, Quigley R, Harder DR, Zhao X, Imig JD, Pederson TL, Newman JW, Hammock BD, Conley AJ, Korach KS, Coffman TM, Zeldin DC. Increased blood pressure in mice lacking cytochrome P450 2J5. FASEB J. 2008 Aug 20.

Stowe DF, Camara AK, Heisner, JS, Aldakkak, M, Harder, DR.  Low-flow Perfusion of Guinea Pig Isolated Hearts with 26°C Air-saturated Lifor Solution for 20 House Preserves Function and Metabolism. J Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2008 Sep; 27(9):1008-15.

Kathryn M. Dunn, Marija Renic, Averia K. Flasch, David R Harder, John Flack.  Elevated production of 20-HETE in the cerebral vasculature contributes to severity of ischemic stroke and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats.  Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295: H2455-H2465, 2008. 

Marija Renic, Judith A. Klaus, Tomohiro Omura, Naoya Kawashima, Michihito Onishi, Noriyuki Miyata, Raymond C. Koehler, David R Harder, and Richard J Roman.  Effect of 20-HETE inhibition on infarct volume and cerebral blood flow after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. J Cereb Blood Floow Metab. 2008 Dec 24.

Koehler RD, Roman RJ, Harder, DR. Astrocytes and the regulation of cerebral blood flow. Trends in Neurosciences. 2009 Jan. 20.