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  5. Sai Koka

College of Pharmacy

Faculty Profile

koka Sai Koka, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Office: 
University of Houston College of Pharmacy
Health 2, Room 3044
4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Houston, TX 77204-5037

Contact: sskoka@uh.edu

Research:

Dr. Koka’s research is focused on understanding the molecular and signaling mechanisms regulating the development of cardiometabolic disorders and identifying novel pharmacologic strategies to combat cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as atherosclerosis in diabetic, obese and aging patients. Her laboratory has extensive experience in using various pre-clinical disease models like ischemia reperfusion injury, diabetic cardiomyopathy, aortic aneurysm, atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction. Some of the current research projects include:

• Delineating the role of gut microbe-derived metabolites in endothelial and vascular dysfunction.

• Investigating the therapeutic potential of novel small molecules like inflammasome inhibitors, nanoparticle-based formulations and natural products in ex-vivo and in vivo models of CVD.

• Identifying the cardiotoxic effects of novel agents and studying the pathogenesis of chemotherapeutic drug-induced cardiotoxicity.

  • Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
  • Master of Pharmacy, Andhra University, India 
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy, Andhra University, India
Google Scholar Profile
  • Datta S, Pasham S, Inavolu S, Boini KM, Koka S. Role of gut microbial metabolites in cardiovascular diseases – current insights and the road ahead. Int J Mol Sci. 25(18): 10208, 2024
  • Srinivas A, Suresh D, Vishwanath P, Satish S, Santhekadur P, Koka S, Kumar D. TACE inhibition: a promising therapeutic intervention against AATF-mediated steatohepatitis to hepatocarcinogenesis. Molecular Oncology. 18(8):1940-1957, 2024
  • Koka S, Surineni S, Singh GB and Boini KM. Contribution of membrane raft redox signaling to visfatin-induced inflammasome activation and podocyte injury. Aging.15(22):12738-12748, 2023
  • Koka S, Xi L and Kukreja RC. Chronic inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 with tadalafil affords cardioprotection in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome: Role of Nitric Oxide. Mol Cell Biochem. 468(1-2):47-58, 2020
  • Singh GB, Zhang Y, Boini KM and Koka S. High Mobility Group Box 1 Mediates TMAO-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci. 20. Pii E3570, 2019. • Koka S, Xia M, Li PL and Boini KM. Podocyte NLRP3 inflammasome activation and formation by adipokine Visfatin. Cell Physiol Biochem. 53: 355-365, 2019
  • Boini KM, Hussain T, Li PL and Koka S. Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Instigates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Endothelial Dysfunction. Cell Physiol Biochem. 44: 152-162, 2017
  • Koka S, Xia M, Chen Y, Bhat OM, Yuan X, Boini KM and Li PL. Endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome activation and arterial neointima formation associated with acid sphingomyelinase during hypercholesterolemia. Redox Biol. 13:336-344, 2017
  • Boini KM, Koka S, Xia M, Gehr TW, Li PL. Instigation of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Glomerular Injury in Mice on the High Fat Diet: Role of Acid Sphingomyelinase Gene. Oncotarget, 7 (14): 19031-19044, 2016
  • Koka S, Aluri HS, Xi L, Lesnefsky EJ, Kukreja RC. Chronic inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 with tadalafil attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic hearts: potential role of NO/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 306(11):H1558-68, 2014
  • Koka S, Das A, Salloumn F, Kukreja RC. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor tadalafil attenuates oxidative stress and protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in Type 2 diabetic mice. Free Radic Biol Med. 60:80-8, 2013
  • Koka S, Xi L, Kukreja RC. Chronic Treatment with Long-Acting Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor Tadalafil Alters Proteomic Changes Associated with Cytoskeletal Rearrangement and Redox Regulation in Type 2 Diabetic Hearts. Basic Res Cardiol. 107:1-14, 2012
  • Koka S, Das A, Zhu SG, Durrant D, Xi L, Kukreja RC. Long-acting Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor Tadalafil Attenuates Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyopathy without Interfering with Chemotherapeutic Effect. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 334: 1023-30, 2010
  • Föller M, Feil S, Ghoreschi K, Koka S, Hofmann F, Schuler B, Vogel J, Kasinathan RS, Nicolay JP, Huber SM, Lang F, Feil R. Anemia and splenomegaly in cGKI-deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105: 6771-6, 2008
  • Lang PA, Schenck M, Nicolay JP, Becker JU, Kempe DS, Lupescu A, Koka S, Eisele K, Klarl BA, Rübben H, Schmid KW, Mann K, Hildenbrand S, Hefter H, Huber SM, Wieder T, Erhardt A, Häussinger D, Gulbins E, Lang F. Liver cell death and anemia in Wilson disease involve acid sphingomyelinase and ceramide. Nature Medicine 13: 164-170, 2007

Awards & Honors

  • Mid-to-Senior Career Faculty Research Award, Texas A&M University College of Pharmacy, 2025
  • Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA), 2025
  • Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America (ASIOA) Distinguished Service Award, 2024
  • Roberto Bolli Young Investigator Awards Competition-Finalist, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, 2023
  • Sudhir Gupta Young Scientist Award, Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America (ASIOA), 2019
  • Teaching Excellence Award for Group Teaching, University of Houston, 2018
  • American Radiolabeled Chemicals Junior Scientist Award in Pharmacology, 2013
  • Best Science Award for poster in Scientific Sessions, American Heart Association, 2012
  • Donna Garff Marriott Research Award, Women’s Board of American Heart Association, 2012
  • Travel Award to attend AHA scientific Sessions, VCU Postdoctoral Association, 2012
  • Young investigator Travel Award, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences-Winnipeg Heart International Conference, Winnipeg, Canada, 2011
  • American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2011
  • Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) Stibet, stipend for International Research Scholar, Germany, 2007
  • Summer Research Fellowship by Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India, 2001
  • Dr. A.S. Rao Award in 5th Science talent search by Dr. A.S. Rao Awards Council, India, 1992