Frank Faraci MA, PhD

Dr. Frank M. Faraci, MA, Ph.D. is a Professor of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Iowa. Dr. Faraci's research deals with vascular biology with an emphasis on studies of the carotid artery and cerebral circulation. A major focus of this work is the study of the endothelium, cells that form the inner lining of blood vessels, and the role of these cells in determining vascular structure and function. His work has two major goals. The first is to better understand how blood vessels function normally. The second goal is to define mechanisms that produce vascular dysfunction in the presence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease including hypertension, diabetes, inflammation, and aging. Physiological, pharmacological, and molecular approaches are used to provide greater insight into mechanisms believed to contribute to vascular disease and stroke. There is a major emphasis on the role of oxidative stress in mechanisms that contribute to stroke and vascular cognitive impairment. The research relies heavily on the use of genetically altered mice and viral-mediated gene transfer. He is the director of an NIH Program Project Grant on Cerebral Vascular Biology.