Irena Levitan
Email Address: levitan@uic.eduCollege: Medicine Department: Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy; Department of Medicine
Secondary Department: Bioengineering
Title: Professor
Office: 3097 Phone: 996-0441
Webpage: https://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/directory/name/irena-levitan/
Participating in the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Awards program: Yes
Research Interest:
My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of vascular diseases, particularly high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and pulmonary hypertension.
Our most recent projects include:
1. Impact of high cholesterol on K+ channels and their role in the control of vascular tone
2. Role of K+ channels in vascular dysfunction in obesity
3. Impact of dyslipidemia and obesity of endothelial and vascular stiffness
4. Impact of dyslipidemia on wound healing
5. Roles of K+ channels and high cholesterol in pulmonary hypertension Minimum time commitment in hours per week: 10 Qualifications of a Student:
High motivation
Major in Biological Sciences or Bioengineering
Prior lab experience is helpful but not required Brief Summary of what is expected from the student:
Students need to be highly motivated to do research, read literature and learn and perform specific experiments
Typically, a student chooses or is assigned to a specific project and works together with a more senior member of the lab, a graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow
It is expected that students will be able to generate and analyze new data for their projects
It is also expected that students will present their research as posters in local research events and competitions and there is a possibility to attend a national meeting if the project progresses well
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