Metabolism, Inflammation Researcher Sai Sudha Koka Joins College as Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

UH College of Pharmacy welcomed Sai Sudha Koka, Ph.D., R.Ph., to the college in October as a research assistant professor of Pharmacology. 

Koka earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen in Tuebingen, Germany. She also received a Master of Pharmacy with a specialization in Pharmacology and a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Andhra University in India.

Her research is focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the development of cardiometabolic disorders and identifying novel pharmacologic strategies to combat cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis in diabetic, obese and aging patients. Koka's current work is on the role of gut microbe-derived metabolites in endothelial and vascular cell signaling, inflammation and cardiovascular dysfunction.

Koka has been recognized with several research, travel and presentation awards from such organizations as the American Heart Association, National Postdoctoral Association, and the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. 

Koka has authored or contributed to four book chapters and nearly 40 peer-reviewed journal articles in such publications as the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Biochemistry, FASEB Journal, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

She also has authored or contributed to nearly 30 presentation and published abstracts, and serves as a peer reviewer on six journals, including Nature Scientific Reports and the Journal of the American Heart Association.