March 2026: Congratulations to Koral for receiving the Travel Grant for Early Career Investigators for the 2026 Vascular Discovery - ATVB conference. We are so proud of you, Koral!

March 2026: Congratulations to Sandeep for receiving the Travel Grant for Early Career Investigators for the 2026 Vascular Discovery - ATVB conference. We are so proud of you, Sandeep!

February 2026: Congratulations to Koral for receiving the First Place Poster Award at the 2026 CCDS-MLDRP conference. We are so proud of you, Koral!

February 2026: Congratulations to Sumit for receiving the Second Place Poster Award at the 2026 CCDS-MLDRP conference. We are so proud of you, Sumit!

January 2026:  Our paper titled "Targeting Oxalate Production by Combining Enzyme Inhibition and Proteolysis Activation: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1" was published in J Med Chem.

January 2026: Congratulations to Sumati for being awarded the AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Sumati!

December 2025: Congratulations to Fabio for being awarded the Ike Muslow Postdoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Fabio!

December 2025: Congratulations to Koral for being awarded the CCDS Malcolm Feist Predoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Koral!

December 2025: Our study titled "Sex-based multiomics analysis uncovers metabolic and molecular mediators linking MASH and atherosclerosis" was published in the JHEP Reports.

October 2025: Congratulations Koral for receiving "Outstanding Pathology Graduate Student Trainee for Fall 2025." We are very proud of you and your hard work!

October 2025: Congratulations to Sumati for receiving the First Place Poster Award at the 2025 BRAID conference. We are so proud of you, Sumati!

September 2025: Congratulations to Sumati for receiving the First Place Poster Award at the 2025 National Postdoc Appreciation Research Symposium. We are so proud of you, Sumati!

September 2025: LSU Health Shreveport has been awarded a five-year, $7.5 million grant from the NSF to establish a new Center for Post-Transcriptional Regulation. Led by Oren Rom, PhD, RD, Senior Associate Dean for Basic and Translational Research and Wayne Orr, PhD, Vice Chair for Pathology and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences, this award represents the first, and largest, NSF-funded center grant in the history of LSUHS. 

February 2025: Congratulations to Sandeep for receiving the D. Neil Granger Outstanding Postdoctoral Award at the 2025 Malcolm Feist Cardiovascular Research and the Metabolic & Liver Disease Research Symposium. We are so proud of you, Sandeep!

February 2025: Congratulations to Koral for receiving the Third Place Poster Award at the Malcolm Feist Cardiovascular Research and the Metabolic & Liver Disease Research Symposium. We are so proud of you, Koral!

November 2024: Congratulations to Sumit for being named the 2023-24 Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Pathology & Translational Pathobiology. We are so proud of you, Sumit!

November 2024: Congratulations to Sumati for being awarded the CCDS Malcolm Feist Postdoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Sumati!

November 2024: Congratulations to Koral for receiving the First Place Poster Award at the 2024 Biomedical Research and Industry Day (BRAID). 

September 2024: Our study titled "Inhibition of hepatic oxalate overproduction ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis" was published in the Nature Metabolism 

September 2024: Our collaborative study with the Dhanesha lab titled "Enhanced Venous Thrombosis and Hypercoagulability in Murine and Human Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis" was published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (JTH)  

August 2024: Dr. Rom was the First Runner Up of the David L. Williams Lecture and Scholarship Award at the 2024 Kern Lipid Conference, Snowmass, CO, USA

June 2024: Dr. Rom was appointed as the Associate Dean for Basic and Translational Research: https://www.lsuhs.edu/about/newsroom/news/news-story/~board/research/post/dr-oren-rom-appointed-to-new-position-at-lsuhs 

June 2024: Dr. Rom was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. 

June 2024: Congratulations to Jennifer for winning the 1st place research award at the Albert G. Smith Resident Research Symposium! We are so proud of you, Jennifer!

June 2024: We are excited to have Dr. Fabio Arias Bordajandi joining us as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Welcome aboard, Fabio!

May 2024: Congratulations to Koral for being awarded the Multidisciplinary Training in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology (MTCP) Predoctoral Fellowship. We are so proud of you, Koral!

March 2024:  Our review with the Yurdagul lab titled Dysregulated cellular metabolism in atherosclerosis: mediators and therapeutic opportunities was published in Nature Metabolism. 

February 2024: Congratulations to Sumati for receiving the Second Place Poster Award at the Feist Cardiovascular Research Symposium.

January 2024: Congratulations to Sumit for being awarded the AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Sumit!

January 2024: Congratulations to Sandeep for being awarded the AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Sandeep!

January 2024: Our study titled "Serine synthesis via reversed SHMT2 activity drives glycine depletion and acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in MASLD" was published in Cell Metabolism. 

January 2024:  Our review titled "Amino Acid Metabolism and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease" was published in Am J Pathol.

December 2023: Congratulations to Sumit for being awarded the Keystone Symposia Future of Science Fund scholarship! We are so proud of you, Sumit!

November 2023: Congratulations to Sandeep for being awarded the CCDS Malcolm Feist Postdoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Sandeep!

August 2023: The Rom lab was awarded an NIH/NIDDK R01 grant to study Dysregulated Oxalate Metabolism in Cardiometabolic Diseases.  

August 2023: In collaboration with FURANICA, INC., Drs. Francisco Schopfer and Fei Chang, the Rom lab was awarded an NIH/NIDDK STTR grant to study Structurally engineered N-acyl amino acids for the treatment of NASH.

August 2023:  We are excited to have Dr. Alia Ghrayeb joining us as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Welcome aboard, Alia!

June 2023: In collaboration with the Yurdagul and Pattillo labs, our study titled "Spatially Resolved Metabolites in Stable and Unstable Human Atherosclerotic Plaques Identified by Mass Spectrometry Imaging" was published in ATVB. 

May 2023: In our review published in Front Cardiovasc Med, we cover common mechanisms, animal models, biomarkers and therapeutic targets linking NASH and atherosclerotic CVD. 

May 2023: The Rom lab attended the 2023 AHA Vascular Discovery meeting in Boston with multiple posters and talks presented by the team. 

April 2023: Our study titled "DT-109 ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in nonhuman primates" was published in Cell Metabolism. 

February 2023: Our research on the link between fatty liver disease and heart disease was covered by the Shreveport Times: https://shreveporttimes-la.newsmemory.com/?publink=0d88de17e_134aa76

February 2023: Our research on the link between fatty liver disease and heart disease was covered by 318 Forum Magazine: https://theforumnews.com/article-5091-heart-disease-and-fatty-liver-diseases.html 

February 2023: Congratulations to Sumit for receiving the Second Place Poster Award at the Feist Cardiovascular Research Symposium.

January 2023: Congratulations to Alex for being awarded the AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Alex!

December 2022:  We are excited to have Dr. Sumati Rohilla joining us as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Welcome aboard, Sumati!

November 2022:  We are excited to have Dr. Sumit Kumar Anand joining us as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Welcome aboard, Sumit!

October 2022: Congratulations to Alex for receiving the First Place Poster Award at the Biomedical Research and Industry Day (BRAID).

August 2022: We are excited to have Peyton McKinney joining us as a Research Assistant. Welcome aboard, Peyton!

June 2022: The Rom lab was awarded an NIH/NIDDK R01 grant to study Lipidated Amino Acids in Cardiometabolic Diseases.   

June 2022: Congratulations to Alex for being awarded the CCDS Malcolm Feist Postdoctoral Fellowship! We are so proud of you, Alex!

May 2022: Dr. Rom was named the winner of the 2022 Irvine H. Page Junior Faculty Research Award by the AHA’s ATVB Council.

April 2022: Dr. Rom received the Research Rising Star Award at the 4th Annual Research Celebration, LSUHS. 

April 2022: Our study titled "Induction of glutathione biosynthesis by glycine-based treatment mitigates atherosclerosis" was published in Redox Biology. 

March 2022: Congratulations to Alex for receiving a Poster Award at the 4th Annual Gulf Coast Vascular Research Consortium.

February 2022: Congratulations to Alex for receiving the First Place Poster Award at the Feist Cardiovascular Research Symposium.

December 2021: We are excited to have Dr. Alexandra Finney joining us as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Welcome aboard, Alex!

November 2021: We are excited to have Dr. Sandeep Das joining us as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Welcome aboard, Sandeep!

August 2021: Our study titled "dysregulated oxalate metabolism is a driver and therapeutic target in atherosclerosis" was published in Cell Reports. 

July 2021: The Rom lab was awarded an NIH/NHLBI R00 grant to study the mechanisms of glycine-based therapy for atherosclerosis.  

May 2021: The Rom Laboratory for Cardiometabolic and Liver Research is open! Positions are available immediately. See "Positions" tab for more information.

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Mary Peyton Mckinney
Lab Manager

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Sandeep Das, PhD
AHA Postdoctoral Fellow

As an American Heart Association (AHA) funded postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Rom’s laboratory, my current research investigates how dysregulated oxalate metabolism contributes to the development of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) and atherosclerosis. I am also exploring the therapeutic potential of reducing oxalate levels through both genetic and pharmacological interventions to treat coexisting MASH and atherosclerosis. In addition, I am also understanding the role of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-specific serine hydroxy methyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Specifically, I am examining how disruption of SHMT2-mediated one-carbon metabolism influences the phenotypic transition of contractile VSMCs to a synthetic phenotype during advanced stages of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, I am developing a novel murine model that recapitulates both MASH and atherosclerosis using a combined genetic and dietary approach.

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Sumit Kumar Anand, PhD
AHA Postdoctoral Fellow

My current research, funded by an American Heart Association (AHA) postdoctoral fellowship, explores the crosstalk between lipid and amino acids in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), its more severe form i.e., metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and associated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Specifically, I investigate alternations in the metabolism of N-acyl amino acids (NAAs) and study interventions based on NAAs, exploring their underlying mechanisms through activation fatty acid β-oxidation and suppression of inflammatory responses, with the ultimate goal of developing a novel treatment for the simultaneous treatment of MASH and atherosclerosis. Another area of my research lies in developing novel genetic and dietary mouse models with concurrent MASH and atherosclerosis.

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Sumati Rohilla, PhD
CCDS Postdoctoral Fellow

My current research, funded by the LSUHS CCDS fellowship, focuses on elucidating the role of macrophage serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) in maintaining atherosclerotic plaque stability. Specifically, I investigate how the loss of SHMT2 in macrophages disrupts glycine-serine metabolism and redox balance, promotes ceramide accumulation, and ultimately impairs efferocytosis. Additionally, my research explores lipid-amino acid-oxalate interactions in metabolic disorders like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and atherosclerosis, aiming to develop therapeutic strategies for both MASH and atherosclerosis.

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Fabio Arias Bordajandi, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

As a pharmaceutical chemist in Dr. Rom's lab, my research focuses on developing novel therapeutic compounds that target dysregulated hepatic metabolic pathways involved in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). By investigating their effects both in vitro and at the systemic level, our goal is to advance these candidates toward clinical development in the near future.

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Dor Maayan
Facial Plastics Clinical Fellow in Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery

My research in Dr. Rom’s lab investigates the role of a ketogenic diet as a modulator of type 2 inflammation and polyp formation in a murine model of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Using a validated protocol to first induce nasal polyps in BALB/c mice we trigger eosinophilic-allergic inflammation, we subsequently employ a low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet. Our study aims to elucidate how the ketogenic diet modulates type 2 inflammatory responses and polyp progression, with potential implications for novel therapeutic strategies in CRSwNP management.

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Koral Richard
T-32 Graduate Student

I am funded by the NIH T-32 Multi-disciplinary Training and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Predoctoral Fellowship. I am investigating how dysregulated amino acid metabolism, and particularly glycine metabolism, in the liver affects atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Patients with atherosclerosis have significantly reduced glycine levels. The enzyme serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) in the liver is responsible for controlling systemic glycine by converting glycine with serine. We have found that inhibiting SHMT2, specifically in liver cells, can be a valuable therapeutic target for atherosclerosis treatment. Additionally projects I am contributing to include testing modified N-Acyl amino acids for the simultaneous treatment of MASH and atherosclerosis, as well as investigating SHMT2 in the context of MASH-derived hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Jemiah Maxie
Graduate Student

Liver cancer is a leading cause of death in cancer-related incidents. Given the rise in obesity due to poor diet choices, metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has become a rising risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which is the predominant cancer found in the liver. My project focuses on the enzyme serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2), which is widely altered and targeted in a variety of cancers. SHMT2 regulates the interconversion of glycine and serine, which is important for all one-carbon metabolic reactions. However, its role in MASH-derived HCC is unexplored. I am focusing on SHMT2 and its implications in one-carbon metabolism that influence the progression from MASH to HCC, and its potential as a therapeutic target in this disease.

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Selected from 69 publications (33 as first author and 15 as corresponding/senior author).  View a complete list of my published work.

#Corresponding/senior author; *Equal contribution

• Das S, Finney AC, Anand SK, Rohilla S, Liu Y, Pandey N, Ghrayeb A, Kumar D, Nunez K, Liu Z, Arias F, Zhao Y, Pearson-Gallion BH, McKinney MP, Richard KSE, Gomez-Vidal JA, Abdullah CS, Cockerham ED, Eniafe J, Yurochko AD, Magdy T, Pattillo CB, Kevil CG, Razani B, Bhuiyan MS, Seeley EH, Galliano GE, Wei B, Tan L, Mahmud I, Surakka I, Garcia-Barrio MT, Lorenzi PL, Gottlieb E, Salido E, Zhang J, Orr AW, Liu W, Diaz-Gavilan M, Chen YE, Dhanesha N, Thevenot PT, Cohen AJ, Yurdagul A Jr, Rom O^#. Inhibition of hepatic oxalate overproduction ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Nat Metab. 2024 Sep 27. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39333384

• Pandey N, Anand SK, Kaur H, Richard KSE, Chandaluri L, Butler ME, Zhang X, Pearson-Gallion B, Rohilla S, Das S, Magdy T, Sethu P, Núñez KG, Orr AW, Stokes KY, Cohen AJ, Thevenot PT, Rom O^#, Dhanesha N^#. Enhanced Venous Thrombosis and Hypercoagulability in Murine and Human Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis. J Thromb Haemost (In Press, Available online 19 September 2024)

• Stroope C, Nettersheim FS, Coon B, Finney AC, Schwartz MA, Ley K, Rom O, Yurdagul A Jr. Dysregulated cellular metabolism in atherosclerosis: mediators and therapeutic opportunities. Nat Metab. 2024 Apr;6(4):617-638.

• Ghrayeb A, Finney AC, Agranovich B, Peled D, Anand SK, McKinney MP, Sarji M, Yang D, Weissman N, Drucker S, Fernandes SI, Fernández-García J, Mahan K, Abassi Z, Tan L, Lorenzi PL, Traylor J, Zhang J, Abramovich I, Chen YE, Rom O#, Mor I#, Gottlieb E#. Serine synthesis via reversed SHMT2 activity drives glycine depletion and acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in MASLD. Cell Metab. 2024 Jan 2;36(1):116-129.e7. 

• Seeley EH, Liu Z, Yuan S, Stroope C, Cockerham E, Rashdan NA, Delgadillo L, Finney AC, Kumar D, Das S, Razani B, Liu W, Traylor J, Orr AW, Rom O^#, Pattillo CB^#, Yurdagul A Jr^#. Spatially Resolved Metabolites in Stable and Unstable Human Atherosclerotic Plaques Identified by Mass Spectrometry Imaging. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2023 Sep;43(9):1626-1635.

• Qu P*, Rom O*, Li K*, Jia L, Gao X, Liu Z, Ding Z, Zhao M, Wang H, Chen S, Xiong X, Zhao Y, Xue C, Zhao Y, Chu C, Wen B, Finney AC, Zheng Z, Cao W, Zhao J, Bai L, Zhao S, Sun D, Zeng R, Lin J, Liu W, Zheng L. Zhang J, Liu E, Chen YE. DT-109 Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Nonhuman Primates. Cell Metab. 2023 May 2;35(5):742-757.e10. 

• Rom O^#*, Liu Y*, Finney AC*, Ghrayeb A*, Zhao Y, Shukha Y, Wang L, Rajanayake KK, Das S, Rashdan NA, Weissman N, Delgadillo L, Wen B, Garcia-Barrio MT, Aviram M, Kevil CG, Yurdagul A Jr, Pattillo CB, Zhang J, Sun D, Hayek T, Gottlieb E, Mor I, Chen YE^#. Induction of glutathione biosynthesis by glycine-based treatment mitigates atherosclerosis. Redox Biol. 2022 Jun;52:102313.

• Liu Y, Zhao Y, Shukha Y, Lu H, Wang L, Liu Z, Liu C, Zhao Y, Wang H, Zhao G, Liang W, Fan Y, Chang L, Yurdagul A Jr, Pattillo CB, Orr AW, Aviram M, Wen B, Garcia-Barrio MT, Zhang J, Liu W, Sun D, Hayek T, Chen YE^#, Rom O^#. Dysregulated oxalate metabolism is a driver and therapeutic target in atherosclerosis. Cell Rep. 2021 Jul 27;36(4):109420.  

• Rom O^#, Liu Y, Liu Z, Zhao Y, Wu J, Ghrayeb A, Villacorta L, Fan Y, Chang L, Wang L, Liu C, Yang D, Song J, Rech JC, Guo Y, Wang H, Zhao G, Liang W, Koike Y, Lu H, Koike T, Hayek T, Pennathur S, Xi C, Wen B, Sun D, Garcia-Barrio MT, Aviram M, Gottlieb E, Mor I, Liu W, Zhang J, Chen YE^#. Glycine-based treatment ameliorates NAFLD by modulating fatty acid oxidation, glutathione synthesis, and the gut microbiome. Sci Transl Med. 2020;12(572):eaaz2841.

• Nielsen JB*, Rom O*, Surakka I*, Graham SE*, Zhou W*, Roychowdhury T, Fritsche LG, Gagliano Taliun SA, Sidore C, Liu Y, Gabrielsen ME, Skogholt AH, Wolford B, Overton W, Zhao Y, Chen J, Zhang H, Hornsby WE, Acheampong A, Grooms A, Schaefer A, Zajac GJM, Villacorta L, Zhang J, Brumpton B, Løset M, Rai V, Lundegaard PR, Olesen MS, Taylor KD, Palmer ND, Chen YD, Choi SH, Lubitz SA, Ellinor PT, Barnes KC, Daya M, Rafaels N, Weiss ST, Lasky-Su J, Tracy RP, Vasan RS, Cupples LA, Mathias RA,  Yanek LR, Becker LC, Peyser PA, Bielak LF, Smith JA, Aslibekyan S, Hidalgo BA, Arnett DK, Irvin MR, Wilson JG, Musani SK, Correa A, Rich SS, Guo X, Rotter JI, Konkle BA, Johnsen JM, Ashley-Koch AE, Telen KJ, Sheehan VA, Blangero J, Curran JE, Peralta JM, Montgomery C, Sheu WHH, Chung RH, Schwander K, Nouraie SM, Gordeuk VR, Zhang Y, Kooperberg C, Reiner AP, Jackson RD, Bleecker ER, Meyers DA, Li X, Das S, Yu K, LeFaive J, Smith A, Blackwell T, Taliun D, Zollner S, Forer L, Schoenherr S, Fuchsberger C, Pandit A, Zawistowski M, Kheterpal S, Brummett CM, Natarajan P, Schlessinger D, Lee S, Kang HM, Cucca F, Holmen OL, Åsvold BO, Boehnke M, Kathiresan S, Abecasis GR. Chen YE^#, Willer CJ^#, Hveem K^#. Loss-of-function genomic variants with impact on liver-related blood traits highlight potential therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease. Nat Commun. 2020;11(1):6417.

• Rom O, Xu G, Guo Y, Zhu Y, Wang H, Zhang J, Fan Y, Liang W, Lu H, Liu Y, Aviram M, Liu Z, Kim S, Liu W, Wang X, Chen YE, Villacorta L. Nitro-fatty acids protect against steatosis and fibrosis during development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice. EBioMedicine. 2019;41:62-72.

• Lu H, Sun J, Liang W, Chang Z, Rom O, Zhao Y, Zhao G, Xiong W, Wang H, Zhu T, Guo Y, Chang L, Garcia-Barrio MT, Zhang J, Chen YE, Fan Y. Cyclodextrin Prevents Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm via Activation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell TFEB. Circulation. 2020;142(5):483-498.

• Rom O, Chen YE, Aviram M. Genetic variants associated with cardiovascular diseases and related risk factors highlight novel potential therapeutic approaches. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2021;32(2):148-150.
• Zhao G, Chang Z, Zhao Y, Guo Y, Lu H, Liang W, Rom O, Wang H, Sun J, Zhu T, Fan Y, Chang L, Yang B, Garcia-Barrio MT, Chen YE, Zhang J. KLF11 protects against abdominal aortic aneurysm through inhibition of endothelial cell dysfunction. JCI Insight. 2021:141673.

• Koike T, Koike Y, Yang D, Guo Y, Rom O, Song J, Xi J, Chen Y, Wang Y, Zhu T, Garcia-Barrio MT, Fan J, Chen YE, Zhang J. Human Apolipoprotein A-II Reduces Atherosclerosis in Knock-in Rabbits. Atherosclerosis. 2021;316:32-40.

• Rom O, Villacorta L, Zhang J, Chen YE, Aviram M. Emerging therapeutic potential of glycine in cardiometabolic diseases: dual benefits in lipid and glucose metabolism. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2018;29(5):428-432.
• Hirai H, Yang B, Garcia-Barrio MT, Rom O, Ma PX, Zhang J, Chen YE. Direct Reprogramming of Fibroblasts Into Smooth Muscle-Like Cells With Defined Transcription Factors. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2018;38(9):2191-2197.

• Qi X, Qu S, Xiong W, Rom O, Chang L, Jiang Z. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in atherosclerosis: a double-edged sword. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2018;17:134.

• Xiong W, Zhao X, Villacorta L, Rom O, Garcia-Barrio MT, Guo Y, Fan Y, Zhu T, Zhang J, Zeng R, Chen YE, Jiang Z, Chang L. Brown Adipocyte-Specific PPARγ (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ) Deletion Impairs Perivascular Adipose Tissue Development and Enhances Atherosclerosis in Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2018;38(8):1738-1747.

• Villacorta L, Minarrieta L, Salvatore SR, Khoo NK, Rom O, Gao Z, Berman RC, Jobbagy S, Li L, Woodcock SR, Chen YE, Freeman BA, Ferreira AM, Schopfer FJ, Vitturi DA. In situ generation, metabolism and immunomodulatory signaling actions of nitro-conjugated linoleic acid in a murine model of inflammation. Redox Biol. 2018;15:522-531.

• Grajeda-Iglesias C, Rom O, Hamoud S, Volkova N, Hayek T, Abu-Saleh N, Aviram M. Leucine supplementation attenuates macrophage foam-cell formation: Studies in humans, mice, and cultured macrophages. Biofactors. 2018;44(3):245-262.

• Rom O^#*, Grajeda-Iglesias C*, Najjar M, Abu-Saleh N, Volkova N, Dar DE, Hayek T, Aviram M. Atherogenicity of amino acids in the lipid-laden macrophage model system in vitro and in atherosclerotic mice: a key role for triglyceride metabolism. J Nutr Biochem. 2017;45:24-38.

• Rom O^#, Korach-Rechtman H, Hayek T, Danin-Poleg Y, Bar H, Kashi Y, Aviram M. Acrolein increases macrophage atherogenicity in association with gut microbiota remodeling in atherosclerotic mice: protective role for the polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice. Arch Toxicol. 2017;91(4):1709-1725.

The focus of the Rom laboratory is to shed light on yet undefined metabolic pathways linking cardiovascular disease with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a disease that affects one third of the world population with limited pharmacological therapy available. We utilize a multidisciplinary approach involving newly generated animal models, samples from patients with cardiometabolic diseases and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) combined with a variety of research tools including transcriptomics, metabolomics, animal pathophysiology, as well as cellular and molecular biology. This approach highlighted newly identified metabolic pathways linking amino acid and lipid metabolism in MASLD, the more severe metabolic-dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and atherosclerosis as potential therapeutic targets, resulting in high-impact publications, patent applications (PCT/US21/46357, PCT/US22/43212, PCT/US23/68990, and PCT/US2024/17626), and evaluation through preclinical and clinical trials. Our work was published in leading journals in the fields of metabolism (Cell Metab, Nat Metab), translational/medical research (Sci Transl Med, EBioMedicine, Nat Commun, Cell Rep, J Clin Invest), cardiovascular research (Circulation, Circ Res, Eur J Heart Fail, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol [ATVB], Blood Adv,  J Thromb Haemost [JTH]), and redox biology (Redox Biol, Free Radic Biol Med).  Currently, the lab is funded through the NHLBI and NIDDK, and is fully staffed including lab technicians, residents, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, which are funded through various AHA and NIH fellowships.

Post-doctoral Fellows

The Rom Laboratory for Cardiometabolic and Liver Research is currently recruiting a Post-doctoral Fellow to study the interrelationship between amino acid and lipid metabolism in atherosclerosis and NAFLD, and to advance the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches. In association with the LSU Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences (CCDS) and the Center for Redox Biology and Cardiovascular Disease, fellows will have access to state-of-the-art core facilities in cardiometabolic research, career development programs and intramural funding opportunities. Postdoctoral Fellows interested in conducting research in the Rom lab should review the current laboratory research directions and contact Dr. Rom at oren.rom@lsuhs.edu.

Graduate Students

The Rom Laboratory for Cardiometabolic and Liver Research has a number of research projects available for graduate students. Those who are interested should review the current laboratory research directions and contact Dr. Rom at oren.rom@lsuhs.edu.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

The Rom Laboratory for Cardiometabolic and Liver Research has a number of research projects available for undergraduate students. Those who are interested should review the current laboratory research directions and contact Dr. Rom at oren.rom@lsuhs.edu.

Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows

The Rom Laboratory for Cardiometabolic and Liver Research has a number of research projects available for Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows. Those who are interested should review the current laboratory research directions and contact Dr. Rom at oren.rom@lsuhs.edu.

Contact the Rom Lab

LSU Health Shreveport
Department of Pathology
Biomedical Research Institute Rm F4-27
1501 Kings Hwy
Shreveport, LA 71103

Oren Rom, PhD, RD
Email: oren.rom@lsuhs.edu 
Office: (318) 675-5848
Lab: (318) 675-5847