Pamela Harding, PhD

Titles

• Senior Scientist-Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital
• Associate Professor (FTA) - Department of Physiology, Wayne State University

Biographical Statement

My interest in science and medicine stems from an early age in which I decided that I wanted to become a scientist in medical research. I completed my Ph.D in the UK in the field of kidney pathphysiology, specifically examining the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on glomerular prostanoid production in normotensive and hypertensive rats and then moved to the United States to pursue post doctoral training in the Hypertension & Vascular Research Division of Henry Ford Hospital. It was there that I switched my focus from the kidney to examining changes that occur in the heart during hypertension and heart failure. After 5 years in that role, I moved for further post doctoral training and my first faculty position in the department of Pathology at Eastern Virginia Medical School and subsequently moved back to Henry Ford Hospital in the role of Senior Bioscientific Staff.

In my role as a scientist, I enjoy the times that I am still able to conduct experiments at the bench and I welcome a variety of students into my laboratory ranging from graduate and medical students to college students/senior high school students who are looking for real-life experiences to inform on their future career choices. I spend time engaging with my students and derive satisfaction from their successes.

Research Interests

My research over the last two decades has focused on understanding the role of prostaglandins, especially PGE2 in cardiac biology as it relates to heart failure produced by either hypertension or a myocardial infarction. In particular, we have discovered that different PGE2 receptor subtypes have opposing effects on heart function and cardiac contractility with their expression being altered in disease states. My laboratory employs a variety of experimental approaches that range from whole animal models of disease including gene knockout and transgenic models to cell and molecular studies on isolated cardiomyocytes.

Projects ongoing in the laboratory

Effects of EP3 gene deletion or EP3 antagonists on cardiac function post myocardial infarction
Differential effects on EP3 and EP4 on mitochondrial function in cardiac disease
Effects of PGE2 and EP3 agonists/antagonists on cardiac contractility and calcium handling proteins

Awards & Honors

• NIH funded Scientist
• Fellow of the American Heart Association
• Editorial Advisory Member for Biochemical Pharmacology
• Serves as a peer reviewer for several journals
• Serves on NIH and AHA study sections
• Abstract reviewer for the AHA Council on Hypertension meeting