Dr. Raquibul Hasan
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Education
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Vascular Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- Ph.D., University of Cambridge
- M.S., Jahangirnagar University
- B.S., Jahangirnagar University
Research Background and Interests
My research laboratory studies the molecular pharmacology of ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to identify new drug molecules and/or repurpose existing drugs to improve vascular dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and stroke. We offer both basic science projects and drug discovery projects for students, volunteers and trainees. Our basic science project studies physiological functions and pathological alterations of vascular ion channels, GPCRs and associated signaling pathways. Our drug discovery project involves in-silico screening of candidate drugs as well as repurposing of existing drugs followed by functional, biochemical and molecular studies. We perform our experiments on fresh isolated intact arteries and isolated smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Techniques used include pressurized arterial myography, simultaneous arterial calcium imaging and contractility measurement, in-vitro assays (e.g. nitric oxide/cGMP/cAMP measurement and enzyme activity assays) protein biochemistry (e.g. Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, biotinylation), mass-spectrometry, cell and molecular biology (e.g. PCR, DNA amplification, isolation and purification, point mutation, confocal imaging, cell culture and transfection), and RNAi for gene knockdown. We use genetic models of hypertension such as Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) and the Stroke Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHRSP), as well as induced models of hypertension ( e.g. angiotensin II, salt and L-NAME) to address our research questions. Queries for potential training opportunities in my laboratory should be directed to hasan_r@mercer.edu.
Courses
- PHA 329 Pharmacy Fundamentals
- PHA 463 Cardiovascular and Renal Pharmacotherapy I
- PHA 464 Cardiovascular and Renal Pharmacotherapy II
- PHA 537 Gastrointestinal and Musculoskeletal Pharmacotherapy
- PHA 547 Nervous System Pharmacotherapy
- PHA 799 Thesis Research
- PHA 899 Doctoral Research