Nelson Ruiz-Opazo, PhD
Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute

PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
MS, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
MS, Universidad Austral de Chile
BS, Universidad Austral de Chile



Research interests span the molecular genetics of hypertension and target organ complications, and the identification of DEspR (the dual endothelin-1/signal peptide of VEGF receptor) as a novel therapeutic target in cancer with a focus on cancer stem cell (CSC) pathological extended survival in anoikis conditions and adverse metabolic conditions, CSC tumorigenicity and multipotential self-sufficiency to metastasize. More recently, inter-disciplinary collaborations advance translational research into the role of DEspR+ neutrophils in neutrophil-mediated secondary tissue injury relevant to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), COVID19-ARDS, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Research expertise spans molecular and cell biology analysis of cancer stem cells (CSC), CSC-derived tumor cell phenotypes, xenograft modeling using CSCs in nude rat strain, and conducting survival analysis to test efficacy and safety of novel targeted therapies in cancer focusing on high unmet need cancers – pancreatic peritoneal carcinomatosis, glioblastoma. In molecular genetics research, expertise spans GWAS analysis of F2-genetic hypertensive cohorts and associated candidate genes, GWAS analysis of genetic F2 intercross linkage studies of Learning and Memory and associated candidate genes, hypertension genetic studies in isolated human populations, transgenic rat modeling. In ARDS and ICH, expertise spans adaptive application of basic science approaches to ex vivo analysis of neutrophil subsets within the context of the pathological microenvironment present in the patient.

Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Member
Boston University
Genome Science Institute


Member
Boston University
Ambulatory Pediatrics




Novel targeted therapy for pancreatic peritoneal carcinomatosis:a potential therapeutic platform for other cancers
02/01/2016 - 06/30/2024 (PI)
Ellison Foundation


Neutrophils and NETs in Intra-Cerebral Hemorrhage Exacerbation
03/04/2020 - 09/30/2022 (PI)
NControl Therapeutics, Inc.


Humanized anti-DEspR antibody therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
09/01/2019 - 11/30/2021 (Subcontract PI)
The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. NIH NHLBI
5U54HL119145-07

Multi-functional targeted bio-conjugate platform to dismantle neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)
01/01/2019 - 12/31/2020 (Multi-PI)
PI: Nelson Ruiz-Opazo, PhD
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5R21HL144253-02

Fully humanized anti-DEspR antibody therapy for acute lung injury (ALI)/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
01/01/2018 - 04/30/2019 (Subcontract PI)
The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. NIH NHLBI
5U54HL119145-06

Novel Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
04/01/2018 - 03/31/2019 (Subcontract PI)
Abtelum Biomedical, Inc. NIH NCI
1R43CA221555-01A1

Genetic Mechanisms of Arterial Stiffness in Polygenic Salt-Sensitive Hypertension
09/20/2010 - 06/30/2015 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5R01HL105286-04

Gender-specific Genetic Determinants of Hypertension and End Organ Disease
09/01/2008 - 07/31/2013 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5R01HL086532-04

Genetic Determinants of Hypertension Susceptibility in Humans
09/21/2004 - 09/19/2007 (PI)
Philip Morris Inc

Molecular Genetics of the ET-1/AngII Receptor
04/01/2002 - 03/31/2007 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5 R01 HL69937 04

Showing 10 of 12 results. Show All Results


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2020 Multi-functional targeted bio-conjugate platform to dismantle neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) 5R21HL144253-02
2019 Multi-functional targeted bio-conjugate platform to dismantle neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) 1R21HL144253-01
2013 Genetic mechanisms of arterial stiffness in polygenic salt-sensitive hypertension 5R01HL105286-04 2
2012 Genetic mechanisms of arterial stiffness in polygenic salt-sensitive hypertension 5R01HL105286-03 2
2011 Genetic mechanisms of arterial stiffness in polygenic salt-sensitive hypertension 5R01HL105286-02 2
2011 Gender-specific genetic determinants of hypertension and end organ disease 5R01HL086532-04 8
2010 Genetic mechanisms of arterial stiffness in polygenic salt-sensitive hypertension 1R01HL105286-01 2
2010 Functional characterization of ATP1A1 and DEspR variants associated with essentia 5R21HL098939-02 3
2010 Gender-specific genetic determinants of hypertension and end organ disease 5R01HL086532-03 8
2009 Functional characterization of ATP1A1 and DEspR variants associated with essentia 1R21HL098939-01 3
Showing 10 of 37 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Cross AL, Wright HL, Choi J, Edwards SW, Ruiz-Opazo N, Herrera VLM. Circulating neutrophil extracellular trap-forming neutrophils in rheumatoid arthritis exacerbation are majority dual endothelin-1/signal peptide receptor+ subtype. Clin Exp Immunol. 2024 Oct 16; 218(2):163-168.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39110036
     
  2. Herrera VLM, Bosch NA, Lok JJ, Nguyen MQ, Lenae KA, deKay JT, Ryzhov SV, Seder DB, Ruiz-Opazo N, Walkey AJ. Circulating neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-forming 'rogue' neutrophil subset, immunotype [DEspR?+?CD11b?+], mediate multi-organ failure in COVID-19-an observational study. Transl Med Commun. 2023; 8(1):12.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37096233; PMCID: PMC10111078; DOI: 10.1186/s41231-023-00143-x;
     
  3. Herrera VLM, Gromisch CM, Decano JL, Pasion KA, Tan GLA, Hua N, Takahashi CE, Greer DM, Ruiz-Opazo N. Anti-DEspR antibody treatment improves survival and reduces neurologic deficits in a hypertensive, spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (hsICH) rat model. Sci Rep. 2023 Feb 15; 13(1):2703.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36792616; PMCID: PMC9932093; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28149-3;
     
  4. Herrera VLM, Bosch NA, Lok JJ, Nguyen MQ, Lenae KA, deKay JT, Ryzhov SV, Seder DB, Ruiz-Opazo N, Walkey AJ. Circulating neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-forming 'rogue' neutrophil subset, immunotype [DEspR+CD11b+], mediate multi-organ failure in COVID-19 - an observational study. Res Sq. 2023 Feb 01.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36778407; PMCID: PMC9915800; DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2479844/v1;
     
  5. Whitaker RD, Decano JL, Gormley C, Beigie CA, Meisel C, Tan GA, Moran AM, Giordano NJ, Park Y, Huang P, Andersson S, Gantz D, Grant AK, Ruiz-Opazo N, Herrera VLM, Wong JY. Janus USPION modular platform (JUMP) for theranostic ultrasound-mediated targeted intratumoral microvascular imaging and DNA/miRNA delivery. Theranostics. 2022; 12(18):7646-7667.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36451861; PMCID: PMC9706579; DOI: 10.7150/thno.78454;
     
  6. Carstensen S, Müller M, Tan GLA, Pasion KA, Hohlfeld JM, Herrera VLM, Ruiz-Opazo N. "Rogue" neutrophil-subset [DEspR+CD11b+/CD66b+] immunotype is an actionable therapeutic target for neutrophilic inflammation-mediated tissue injury - studies in human, macaque and rat LPS-inflammation models. Front Immunol. 2022; 13:1008390.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36275710; PMCID: PMC9581391; DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1008390;
     
  7. Herrera VLM, Takahashi CE, Nguyen MQ, Mosaddeghi JZ, Denis R, Greer DM, Ruiz-Opazo N. "Rogue" [DEspR+CD11b+] neutrophil subset correlates with severity in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Front Neurol. 2022; 13:935579.View Related Profiles. PMID: 35959408; PMCID: PMC9358208; DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.935579;
     
  8. Herrera VLM, Walkey AJ, Nguyen MQ, Gromisch CM, Mosaddhegi JZ, Gromisch MS, Jundi B, Lukassen S, Carstensen S, Denis R, Belkina AC, Baron RM, Pinilla-Vera M, Mueller M, Kimberly WT, Goldstein JN, Lehmann I, Shih AR, Eils R, Levy BD, Ruiz-Opazo N. A targetable 'rogue' neutrophil-subset, [CD11b+DEspR+] immunotype, is associated with severity and mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19-ARDS. Sci Rep. 2022 Apr 04; 12(1):5583.View Related Profiles. PMID: 35379853; PMCID: PMC8977568; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09343-1;
     
  9. deKay JT, Emery IF, Rud J, Eldridge A, Lord C, Gagnon DJ, May TL, Herrera VLM, Ruiz-Opazo N, Riker RR, Sawyer DB, Ryzhov S, Seder DB. DEspRhigh neutrophils are associated with critical illness in COVID-19. Sci Rep. 2021 11 17; 11(1):22463.View Related Profiles. PMID: 34789851; PMCID: PMC8599677; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01943-7;
     
  10. Herrera VLM, Walkey AJ, Nguyen MQ, Gromisch CM, Mosaddhegi JZ, Gromisch MS, Jundi B, Lukassen S, Carstensen S, Denis R, Belkina AC, Baron RM, Pinilla-Vera M, Muller M, Kimberly WT, Goldstein JN, Lehmann I, Shih AR, Eils R, Levy BD, Ruiz-Opazo N. Increased Neutrophil-Subset Associated With Severity/Mortality In ARDS And COVID19-ARDS Expresses The Dual Endothelin-1/VEGFsignal-Peptide Receptor (DEspR): An Actionable Therapeutic Target. Res Sq. 2021 Sep 13.View Related Profiles. PMID: 34545358; PMCID: PMC8452107; DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-846250/v1;
     
Showing 10 of 98 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 98 publications over 39 distinct years, with a maximum of 6 publications in 2004 and 2013

YearPublications
19802
19812
19822
19832
19842
19851
19873
19883
19902
19912
19921
19931
19945
19951
19973
19984
19991
20015
20022
20032
20046
20053
20062
20073
20082
20092
20101
20113
20124
20136
20142
20151
20163
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20181
20213
20224
20233
20241


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1991-1996 American Heart Association: Established Investigator
1980 American Association for the Study of Liver Disease: Annual Student Research Prize
In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

genetics
hypertension
learning and memory
cancer stem cells
Neutrophils
Pancreatic Cancer
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700 Albany St Ctr for Adv Biomed Res
Boston MA 02118
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