Dr. Åsa Gustafsson, Ph.D.

Professor
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine

Gustafsson's Photo
Åsa Gustafsson, Ph.D.

Pronouns: She|Her|Hers

Email
abgustafsson@health.ucsd.edu
Phone
(858) 822-5569
Support

Human Resources

Lydia Heidt (formerly Napa)
lnapa@health.ucsd.edu
858-822-7861

Reimbursements

Nicholas "Nick" Vistro
nmvistro@health.ucsd.edu
858-822-5506

Research Summary

Dr. Gustafsson is interested in understanding the molecular pathways that regulate the life and death of cardiac myocytes.  The occurrence of cardiovascular disease increases with advancing age and intrinsic alterations in aging cardiac myocytes are a major contributor to the underlying pathogenesis. In particular, a decline in mitochondrial function is considered to play a key role in the increased susceptibility to disease. In the heart, the primary function of mitochondria is to meet the high energy demand of the beating myocytes by providing ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondrial dysfunction and activa­tion of cell death pathways are common occurrences in cardiovascular disease and contributes to the development of heart failure. Dr. Gustafsson uses genetic, cell and molecular biology approaches, mouse models, and cutting-edge 2D/3D imaging techniques to study the signaling pathways involved in regulating mitochondrial structure, function, and turnover in cells and heart. Specifically, Dr. Gustafsson's research is examining how the E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin regulates removal of dysfunctional mitochondria in cells; and b) determining the molecular mechanisms by which BCL-2 family proteins regulate mitochondrial function, morphology and turnover in cells. 

Academic Achievements

Education: B.S. in Molecular Biology (1996) UCSD; Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, Dept. of Pharmacology (2001) UCSD; Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005) Scripps Research Institute. 

Awards and Honors: Elected Fellow of the International Society for Heart Research (2016); ISHR Outstanding Investigator Award (2014); AHA Established Investigator Award (2014); Elected Fellow of the American Heart Association (2010); Keith and Eva Killam Memorial Award, Western Pharmacological Society (2010); AHA BCVS Outstanding Early-Career Investigator Award Finalist (2008); AHA Scientist Development Grant (2007); Young Investigator Award Winner, International Society for Heart Research American Section (2005); TRDRP New Investigator Award (2005).

Leadership Experience: Chair Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program; Co-Chair of Keystone Meeting (2017); AHA BCVS Leadership Committee member; Chair AHA BCVS Katz Award Committee, Co-Chair 2015 AHA BCVS Meeting; ISHR Executive Committee member; ISHR Treasurer; ISHR President-Elect.

Teaching
  • Principles of Pharmacology & Physiology (SPPS 247)
  • Essentials of grant writing (BIOM 293)
  • Current Topics in Biomedical Sciences (BIOM 203A/B)
Key Contributions
  • Identified a novel mechanism of eliminating dysfunctional mitochondria in cells.
  • Elucidated the importance of autophagy in removing damaged mitochondrial in cardiac cells.
  • Discovered key roles for mitophagy and mitochondrial remodeling during differentiation of progenitor cells.
Potential Collaborative Programs
  • Expertise in mitochondrial function and cell death signaling pathways in cardiac cells.
  • Broad array of molecular and cellular laboratory techniques and in vivo mouse models of heart failure.