LSU Health Shreveport Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology

11/21/2025

Want to uncover how cells and molecules keep life running? What about revealing how chronic diseases take place and find potential treatments? Join the PhD Program in Molecular & Cellular Physiology at LSU Health Shreveport and train with award-winning faculty who are pushing the boundaries of discovery.

✅ Fully funded (stipend + tuition + health insurance)

✅ Super collaborative campus – “If I don’t know how to do it, someone here does and they’ll teach me!”

✅ Cutting-edge labs, translational research, individualized mentorship spanning cardiovascular biology, neuroscience, cancer, metabolism, and more

✅ Strong track record of alumni success in academia, biotech, pharma, and government

Applications for Fall 2026 are NOW OPEN (opened Sept 18)

Apply via GradCAS → https://schoolofgradstudies.lsuhs.edu/academics/molecular-and-cellular-physiology

Questions? DM or email Dr. Art Yurdagul: arif.yurdagul@lsuhs.edu

Our department studies how biological systems perform their functions to maintain the steady-state internal environment of living organisms. We study these processes at the genetic, cellular, organ system or whole-animal level. Understanding the basic concepts of physiological control of organ syste...

11/19/2025

Excited to share that Louise Frausto recently attended the NAVBO Conference, where she was honored with a Travel Award and presented her research poster! 🌟

This recognition highlights her dedication, hard work, and growing contributions to the vascular biology community. Congratulations, Louise, on this well-deserved achievement—and for representing LSU Health Shreveport with excellence!

11/17/2025

👏Congratulations to Luisa Delgadillo, Physiology graduate student in Dr. Pattillo's lab, on successfully defending her dissertation last week!!
This milestone is more than an academic achievement; it’s a testament to your dedication and brilliance. We’re all so proud of you and can’t wait to see the incredible impact you’ll make next! 🤗🦠🧫🧪

11/13/2025

We were thrilled to have Dr. William Marzluff, PhD, from the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UNC-Chapel Hill lead yesterday's Physiology Fall Seminar Series with is fascinating talk, "Birth and Death of Histone mRNAs: Life Without a Poly A Tail."
His insights sparked great discussions and inspired both students and faculty. We're so grateful for his time and contribution to our seminar series! 👏☺️

11/11/2025

Let's keep our campus safe!

10/24/2025

A big thank you to Dr. Salem, PhD!😁
Dr. Salem, from the Department of LSU Health Shreveport Department of Pathology/Research Division for leading last week's Physiology Fall Seminar Series with his talk, "LMOD1 Loss Accelerates CAD via VSMC Dysfunction".

He provided valuable scientific insights that engaged both faculty and students. We truly appreciated his time and contribution to our seminar series!💜💛

10/07/2025

🎉Congratulations to Dr. Khalid El Saafien, PHD🎊
He has been awarded the prestigious Gill Award for Early Career Contribution to Cardiovascular Research by The Gill Heart and Vascular Institute at the University of Kentucky. Dr. El Saafien was invited to present a seminar titled “From Stretch to Signals: Unraveling the Neurophysiology of Cardiovascular Regulation” at the 27th Cardiovascular Research Day hosted by the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he was presented with the award.

The Gill Award for Early Career Contribution is a nomination-only award that recognizes an early career investigator, typically within the first seven years of their faculty appointment, for innovation and creativity that has impacted cardiovascular research and/or advancements in clinical care.

09/26/2025

Big news for North Louisiana! 🎉
Thanks to a $7.5 million National Science Foundation grant, LSU Health Shreveport is launching the Center for Post-Transcriptional Regulation, our first and largest NSF-funded center.
This center will not only drive new biomedical discoveries but also create hands-on research opportunities for high school, undergrad, and graduate students, and expand career pathways in science right here in Shreveport 🙌

09/26/2025

Shreveport's LSUHS celebrates game changing grant, more space needed soon bit.ly/46WF7hS

A first-of-its-kind grant comes to LSU Health Shreveport. It's big, important and potentially game changing.

09/15/2025

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology hosted a breakfast in honor of National Post-Doctoral Appreciation Week. The event highlighted the tireless work Post-Docs perform daily to support the ongoing research projects at LSU Health Shreveport.

09/08/2025

We're excited to welcome Dr. Khalid El Saafien, PhD as the newest Assistant Professor to the Molecular and Cellular Physiology Department at LSUHS!

Dr. El Saafien brings a wealth of expertise in Autonomic Neuroscience, Systems Neuroscience, Sensory Neuroscience, Baroreception, Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease, with research interests that investigates sensory neurons innervating the aortic arch, the role they play in mechano-transduction, blood pressure regulation, the inflammatory reflex, the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the role they play in sex-specific differences in CVD.

Dr. El Saafien is an integrative systems neurophysiologist interested in the autonomic control and regulation of the cardiovascular system. Dr. El Saafien received numerous awards, including the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a Research Recognition Award from the American Physiological Society, and the American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship. He is a member of the American Heart Association and the American Physiological Society.

We're excited to have Dr. El Saafien join our vibrant academic community and look forward to the many contributions he will make in teaching, research, and service.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dr. El Saafien!🎉

08/28/2025

The Yurdagul Lab was swinging into relaxation with a well-deserved evening on the golf course. After months of dedication, hard work, and earning some exciting awards, it was the perfect way to enjoy some team bonding. Here's to many more milestones—on and off the green! ⛳️🏑👨‍🔬