Camilla F. Wenceslau, Ph.D., M.S., FAHA
Principal Investigator
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I received my Master (2007) and PhD (2012) degrees in Human Physiology from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. During this time, I had the opportunity to train abroad at the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. I then went to Augusta University, Medical College of Georgia and joined the laboratory of Dr. Clinton Webb. I received a postdoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association, and I was subsequently awarded a K99/R00 grant from the NIH. In two years as an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) at the University of Toledo College of Medicine & Life Science, Toledo, OH, I received my first R01 award from NHLBI, then I was recruited to a new endeavor at The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, helping launch the Cardiovascular Translational Research Center (CTRC).
Currently, I am an Associate Professor at the Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, USC School of Medicine. My lab investigates vascular mechanics, remodeling, and injury in hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease. Using state-of-the-art techniques—including pressure myography, telemetry, scRNA-seq, GeoMx, and other advanced tools—we explore endothelial and smooth muscle cell heterogeneity, function, and biomechanics across vascular beds. We focus on dysregulated phenotypic shifts, particularly EndMT, which drives vascular remodeling and dysfunction, contributing to disease onset and progression. Our goal is to mitigate EndMT-associated damage through vascular reprogramming, restoring function and biomechanics, and reducing vascular stiffness. By integrating genomic technologies and reprogramming strategies, we aim to develop regenerative therapies to improve vascular health in hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease.
In my free time I love spending time with my husband, Cameron (Cam) McCarthy, my kids Emma and Noah, and my dog Mac. I also love running, drinking coffee, gardening and exploring new Parks and National Forests.
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Current
NIH/NHLBI (#1R01HL149762)Title: Formyl peptide receptor activation induces vascular plasticity and remodeling in hypertension
NIH/NIA (1R21AG085331-01) Title: Reprogramming endothelial cells to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Hypertension
Alzheimer's Association Research Grant - New to the Field (AARG-NTF)
Completed
NIH/NIGMS (#R00GM118885) Title: Intrarenal Arteries Sense Trauma-derived Mitochondrial N-formyl Peptides Leading to Kidney Injury in SIRS
NIH/NIGMS K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (#K99GM118885)
American Heart Association (AHA) (#14POST20490292) Postdoctoral Fellowship
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American Heart Association Harry Goldblatt Award for Early Career Investigators, Council on Hypertension and the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia (HBPRCA), 2022
Standing Member for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Integrative Vascular Physiology and Pathology Study Section (IVPP), 2021-2027
Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) conferred by the Council on Hypertension (HTN). Fellowship recognizes outstanding scientific contributions in hypertension to the American Heart Association or international society, 2020
The John Laragh Research Award, 2020 - The American Journal of Hypertension, 2020
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Meet Our Team
Paul Townsend Jr.
Lab Manager
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Paul Townsend is out lab manager who graduated from the University of South Carolina with both a B.S. and M.E. in Biomedical Engineering. He has worked in a variety of roles including software and website development and project management. He started his research career in our lab focusing his research on the effects of opioids on vascular dysfunction. Paul's long term goals include going to medical school and continuing research throughout his career.
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Email - LinkedIn
Laena Pernomian, PhD
Post Doctoral Fellow
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Dr. Laena Pernomian is a postdoctoral fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Camilla Wenceslau at the University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, SC. She received her Master's and Ph.D. at the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto at the University of São Paulo, Brazil and has more than 13 years of experience working in pharmacology with different models of cardiovascular disease in rats, mice, and rabbits. Dr. Pernomian has completed several postdoc positions at the University of São Paulo including in the Departments of Biochemistry and Immunology, Pharmacology, and Physics and Chemistry. Dr. Pernomian has completed many courses on the handling, care, and surgical procedures in rodents and has been trained to perform several techniques including in vitro vascular and cardiac studies and in vivo measurement of blood pressure. Dr. Pernomian has also accumulated much experience using advanced imaging techniques including more than 12 years in confocal microscopy, more than a year in super-resolution microscopy (multiphoton microscopy), three years of echocardiography in rats and mice, and a year using IVIS Fluorescence. One of her current topics has been the application of using in vivo lentivirus transfection to treat arterial hypertension in mice.
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Emily Waigi
Doctoral Student
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Emily Waigi is originally from Nairobi, Kenya. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Eldoret in Kenya. She was awarded the Fulbright Foreign Students Scholarship which sponsored her Masters degree in Molecular Medicine at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Health Sciences under the supervision of Dr.Wenceslau. Currently, Emily is pursuing her PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine under the supervision of Dr. Wenceslau. Her research is focused on understanding the peripheral vascular events that occur prior to and during the progression of Alzheimer's disease. This research not only constitutes the basis for the discovery of new therapeutic targets, but also forms a link between the pathophysiology of central and peripheral vascular diseases.
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Ian Shiota Montandon
Undergraduate Student
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Ian Montandon is currently a sophomore undergraduate student studying Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience at the University of South Carolina. Recently, he presented posters at the 2022 American Heart Association National Conference and at the University of South Carolina Summer Research Symposium. He is involved in several extracurriculars including the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Trew Friends, and the gymnastics club associated with the University of South Carolina. He has also helped to organize serval functions including a diversity gala that brought in many biotech industry leaders, 100+ guests, and helped over 150 people to become national organ donors.
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Sriya Pallapothu
Undergraduate Student
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Sriya Pallapothu is currently a sophomore at the University of South Carolina Honors College. She is majoring in Biology with a minor in Medical Humanities & Culture. After college, she hopes to attend medical school. Other than working in the lab, Sriya is part of several extracurricular organizations on campus, such as Prescription Partners, Carolina Crosstalk, and SC Synapse. Outside of school, her hobbies include drawing, painting, and reading.
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Vidhi Patel
Undergraduate
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Vidhi Patel is currently a sophomore at the University of South Carolina where she is majoring in exercise science. Her goal after college is to attend medical school. Other than working in the lab, Vidhi’s volunteers at a local hospital several times per week. Outside of school, her hobbies include playing piano, running, and reading.
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Alumni
| Name | Program | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
| Jonnelle M. Edwards | 2017-2021 Doctoral Student | Postdoctoral Fellow, Case Western Reserve University, Cardiology |
| Shaunak Roy | 2018-2020 Master Student 2020-2021 Medical Student |
Medical Student, University of Toledo College of Medicine |
| Soyoung Cheon | 2019-2021 Master Student | Medical Student, University of Toledo College of Medicine |
| Thaddaeus Castaneda | 2020-2021 Master Student | Osteopathic (DO) Student, University of Toledo College of Medicine |
| Vaishnavi Aradhyula | 2019-2020 Master Student | Medical Student, University of Toledo College of Medicine |
| Jeremy Tomcho | 2018-2020 Medical Student | Cardiology Fellow, University of Texax Medical Branch - Galveston |
| McKenna Martin | 2021-2021 Undergraduate | Undergraduate Student, Biological Sciences UofSC |
| Callie Clarke | 2022-2022 Medical Student | Medical Student, UofSC School of Medicine |
| Kawane Moura | 2022-2023 Fulbright Doctoral Student | Doctoral Student, State University of Londrina |
| Carla Brigagão Pacheco da Silva | 2023-2024 Visiting Post Doctoral Fellow | Post Doctoral Fellow, University of São Paulo |
| Paula Barros | 2022-2023 Visiting Doctoral Student | Doctoral Student, Ribeirão Preto Medical School |
| Milene Fontes | 2022-2024 Post Doctoral Fellow | Post Doctoral Fellow, Vanderbilt University |
Current Open Positions