Faculty

Research Summary

Bio

Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD is the dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy. He is also the vice president for Clinical Affairs at the University of Minnesota, board chair for University of Minnesota Physicians and co-leader of M Health Fairview, the joint clinical enterprise among the University of Minnesota Medical School, University of Minnesota Physicians and Fairview Health Services. An internationally recognized physician and researcher, Dr. Tolar is known for his care of patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. His research is focused on developing cellular therapies for rare genetic disorders. Originally from the Czech Republic, Dr. Tolar received his medical education (MD) in Prague at Charles University. In 1992, he came to the University of Minnesota, where he received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology and Genetics.

Research Summary

Dr. Tolar's research focuses on finding new ways to treat children with lethal, inherited diseases. He is also looking for safer and more effective gene therapy for diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa, mucopolysaccharidosis type I (Hurler syndrome), Fanconi anemia, and dyskeratosis congenita. Additional research interests include reducing the negative effects of stem cell transplantation (such as using mesenchymal stromal cells for graft-versus-host disease); creation and use of induced pluripotent stem cells; gene therapy using gene addition (with viral vectors and trasposons); and gene editing (with synthetic nucleases to repair genes).

Clinical Summary

Blood and marrow transplantation; Gene therapy for correction of genetic diseases

Research Summary

My laboratory utilizes an integrative approach to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure, with a specific focus on dystrophic cardiomyopathies. Patients with many forms of muscular dystrophy also have significant cardiac disease. Interestingly, several of the proteins associated with these dystrophic cardiomyopathies have also been implicated in heart failure resulting from more common causes (i.e., ischemic heart disease). Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common form of muscular dystrophy, is caused by mutations in the protein dystrophin. Dystrophin is a large protein that spans from the intracellular cytoskeletal actin lattice to a complex of glycoproteins in the sarcolemmal membrane, which in turn binds to the extracellular matrix. It functions both as a mechanical shock absorber and scaffold for a large array of signaling molecules. We study heart disease at varying levels of biological complexity including intact animals, isolated organs, and indivdual adult cardiomyocytes to obtain insights into disease mechanisms. We also probe molecular physiology, utilizing biochemical methodologies, transgenesis, and in vivo gene transfer. This highly integrated approach provides unique insights into the pathophysiology of heart disease and ultimately will enable us to develop novel therapeutic approaches.

Research Summary

The Veglia Lab focuses on two critical aspects of cell regulation: cAMP-mediated cell signaling and calcium transport. These events are orchestrated by soluble and membrane-bound protein complexes. To characterize their structure, dynamics, and interactions, we utilize a multidisciplinary approach combining solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy with other biophysical methods. Our goal is to understand how these protein complexes mediate allosteric signal transduction in cells and how pathological mutations of these proteins are linked to diseases.

Bio

My clinical and research interests include motor neuron disorders, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), and other neuropathies

Research Summary

Research Funding Grants:

2022-present DHHS FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION 
Clinic-based Multicenter ALS Natural History Data Collection

2021-present PharNEXT
PXT3006
Local Principal Investigator

2020-present ALS Platform Trial
Healy Center for ALS
Local Principal Investigator

2021-present MediciNova
COMBAT-ALS
Co-Investigator

2021-presen Apellis
APL-ALS-206
Co-Investigator

2021-present PHARNext
Phase III Trial of PXT3006 in CMT1A
Local Principal Investigator

2021-present Spastic Paraplegia Foundation
PLS Natural History Study
Local Principal Investigator

2016-present NIH Advancing Treatment for Pancreatitis: A Prospective Observational Study of TPIAT Co-Investigator

2016-present PHARNext
Phase III Trial of PXT3003 in CMT1A and Open-Label Extension
Local Principal Investigator

2016-present Inherited Neuropathy Consortium Rare Disease Clinical Research Network Genetics of CMT - Modifiers of CMT1A, New Causes of CMT
Local Principal Investigator

2016-present Inherited Neuropathy Consortium Rare Disease Clinical Research Network A Natural History Study of CMT1B, CMT2A, CMT4A and CMT4C
Local Principal Investigator

Clinical Summary

Clinical Interests: ALS and other motor neuron disorders; Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT); Neuropathy

My career focus has been on the diagnosis and management of neuropathy, including small fiber neuropathy, inflammatory neuropathy, and inherited neuropathy, as well as ALS and other motor neuron disorders. Our clinics emphasize multidisciplinary management, utilizing interdisciplinary teams of content and disease-state experts.

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: Kathy Vang
Email: vang3630@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE
MMC 508 Mayo
8508A (Campus Delivery Code)
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Born in London, UK, Dr. Yannopoulos received his M.D. from the University of Athens in Greece. He completed his medicine residency and general-cardiology fellowship at the University of Minnesota. Following an interventional-cardiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Yannopoulos joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 2008. In March 2010, he became the research director for interventional cardiology.Dr. Yannopoulos is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology. His clinical interests include emergent cardiac care, coronary-artery disease, and congenital and peripheral intervention.Dr. Yannopoulos's research involves cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hypothermia, and myocardial salvage during acute coronary syndromes. He is considered an authority in cardiorespiratory interactions and hypothermia during CPR. His work in the laboratories of Dr. Keith Lurie (at the University of Minnesota) and Dr. Henry Halperin (at Johns Hopkins University) has helped change current CPR practices.Dr. Yannopoulos is a member of the American Heart Association's CPR guidelines-writing committee, and of the basic life support and research working-group subcommittees. He also serves on the organization committee for the AHA's Resuscitation Science Symposium (ReSS), the largest international conference addressing CPR and emergent cardiac/trauma care.Dr. Yannopoulos is the recipient of two American Heart Association Young Investigator awards (2005 and 2008), and has received AHA and NIH grant support for his work in CPR devices designed to improve bloodflow and clinical outcomes.

Clinical Summary

• Coronary artery disease and intervention
• CPR
• Interventional cardiology
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Resuscitation
• Structural heart disease