In the News

TWO FACULTY MEMBERS AWARDED LSU VET MED ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS

LSU Vet Med Announces New Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education

Education

PhD, Louisiana State University, 1996

BS, Louisiana State University, 1992

Research Interest

Our toxicological research focuses on the role of the environment and environmental factors in the induction or exacerbation of vascular diseases including atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension. In particular, we are investigating the vascular toxicity of airborne particulate matter, of aromatic amines, compounds used industrially in the production of polyurethanes, and of HIV antiretroviral drug therapies. Mechanistic studies aimed at elucidating these toxicities explore drug/toxicant metabolism, endothelial cell injury (including mitochondrial oxidant stress), and stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. We furthermore explore the role of gender in determining the outcome of these vascular toxicities. In other toxicological studies, we are examining the potential for combustion-generated ultrafine particulate matter (PM) to produce reactive oxygen species and induce oxidative stress in rodents exposed by inhalation. Finally, in our pharmacological studies, we are elucidating pathways by which red wine polyphenols might act on the estrogen receptor so as to promote vascular homeostasis and prevent the development of vascular diseases including atherosclerosis and restenosis.

Teaching Interest

Veterinary Pharmacology (VMED 5223), Veterinary Toxicology (VMED 5373), Discussions in Air Pollution Research (CBS 7209)

Awards & Honors

2021, AdhocReviewer and Co-Chair, ZES1 LAT-S (SF) 1 P42 Superfund Research Grant Applications, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences

2021, Dean's Teacher Merit Honor Roll

2018-2020, Section Chair, American Heart Association, Fellowships Vascular Wall Biology Basic Sciences

2019, Dean's Teacher Merit Honor Roll

2018, Dean's Teacher Merit Honor Roll

2017, Dean's Teacher Merit Honor Roll

2017, Organizing Committee Chair, South Central Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

2016, Co-chair, CME Workshop: “Breaking Bad”—Cardiovascular Autophagy Gone Rogue: A Putative Mechanism of Toxicity and a Drug Target in Disease

2016, Distinguished Research Scholar Award, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

2015, Invited Professor, Pierre and Marie Curie University

Patents

Compositions, methods and devices for sustained release of an agent. Tammy R. Dugas, Cristina Sabliov, Carlos Astete. U.S. Provisional Application, Serial No.: 63/202,673; Filing Date: June 21, 2021 
 
Methods and devices for reducing vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Tammy Renee Dugas, Cristina Sabliov, Carlos Astete. PCT/US2019/016302; Filing date: February 1, 2019. U.S. Provisional Application, Serial No:  62/625,026; Filing Date:  February 1, 2018 

Publications

Harmon, A.C., Noel, A., Subramanian, B., Perveen, Z., Jennings, M.H., Chen, Y.F., Penn, A.L., Legendre, K., Varner, K.J., and Dugas, T.R. 2021. Inhalation of particulate matter containing free radicals leads to decreased vascular responsiveness prior to deficits in pulmonary function.  Am. J. Physiol. Heart & Circ Physiol. 2021 Oct 1;321(4):H667-H683.

Aryl, A., Harmon, A.C., and Dugas, T.R.  Combustion-derived air contaminants and cardiovascular disease: Therapeutic potential of dietary supplements. Pharmacol Ther. Jul;223:107890. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107890. Epub 2021 May 14.

Chen., Y.F. and Dugas, T.R. 2019. Endothelial mitochondrial senescence accelerates cardiovascular disease in antiretroviral-receiving HIV patients. Toxicol Lett. 317:13-23.

Chen, Y., Irving, B., and Dugas, T.R.  2019.  Chronic nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor treatment disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis and induces premature endothelial senescence.  Toxicol Sci. 172(2):445-456.

Chen, Y.F., Hebert, V.Y., Stadler, K., Xue, S.Y., Slaybaugh, K., Luttrell-Williams, E., Glover, M.C., Krzywanski, D.M. and Dugas, T.R.  2019. Coenzyme Q10 alleviates chronic nucleoside Reverse transcriptase inhibitor-induced premature endothelial senescence.  Cardiovasc Toxicol. 19(6):500-509.

Dugas, T.R., Brewer, G., Fradella, T., Braun, J., Astete, C.E., Jennings, M.H. and Sabliov, C.M.  2019.  Nanoentrapped polyphenol coating for sustained drug release from a balloon catheter.  J.Biomed. Mater. Res. Pt B.  107(3):646-651.

Harmon, A.C., Hebert, V.Y., Cormier, S.A., Subramanian, B., Reed, J.R., Backes, W.L. and Dugas, T.R. 2018. Particulate matter containing environmentally persistent free radicals induces AhR-dependent cytokine and reactive oxygen species production in human bronchial epithelial cells. PLoS One. 13(10):e0205412.

Allerton, T.D., Proctor, D.N., Stephens, J.M., Dugas, T.R., Spielmann, G., Irving, B.A. 2018.  l-Citrulline supplementation: Impact on cardiometabolic health.  Nutrients. 2018 10(7).

Dugas, T.R. 2018. Unraveling mechanisms of toxicant-induced oxidative stress in cardiovascular disease.  Current Opin Toxicol.  7:1-8. 

Grants

Center for Pre-Clinical Disease Research , National Institutes of Health - NIH, $11,192,691.00

The role of the endothelium in vascular response to airborne PM, NIH - NIEHS, $207,141.00

Nanoparticles for sustained release of drug designed to reduce vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation while promoting re-endothelialization, Louisiana Board of Regent ITRS Program, $200,495.00

Novel toxicant induced model for female specific pulmonary arterial hypertension, American Heart Association, $82,500.00

NIEHS, National Institutes of Health, $143,715.00

LSU SUPERFUND RESEARCH CENTER - ENVIRONMENTALLY PERSISTENT FREE RADICALS, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Center for Lung Biology and Disease – PIP Core, National Institutes of Health - NIH, Center for Lung Biology and Disease (Principal Investigator), National Institutes of Health, $11,530,336.00

Pharmacokinetics of ligustilide from the Chinese herbal Shen Calmer (classical antecedent Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan), after a single-dose oral administration in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)., VCS Corps Grant, $5,000.00

Pharmacokinetics of ligustilide from the Chinese herbal Shen Calmer (classical antecedent Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan), after a single-dose oral administration in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)., Dr. Xie's Jing Tang Herbal Co, $500.00

LIFT2 Award: Development of a polyphenol coated balloon for peripheral artery disease, LSU Board of Supervisors, Cardio-pulmonary responses in mice following inhalation exposure to environmentally persistent free radicals, Louisiana Biomedical Collaborative Research Program (LSUHSC and LSU), $50,000.00

NHLBI, National Institutes of Health, $67,500.00

NHLBI, National Institutes of Health, $25,000.00