Olga Rafikova, MD, PhD

Bio

Dr. Rafikova received her MD and PhD at Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, and completed her postdoctoral research training at the Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh and Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University.

Dr. Rafikova’s research program is focused on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It addresses the intricate molecular mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction, uncontrolled vascular cell proliferation, cell damage and death, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the contribution of sex to these processes. In particular, she has established herself as an expert in metabolic disarrangements and mitochondrial dysfunction (MD), which are key contributors to PAH pathogenesis.  Her group was the first to propose and publish the causative role of MD in PAH by showing that chronic inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory Complex III is sufficient to induce a sustained PAH in healthy rats. Her laboratory has also developed a new rat model of PAH that reproduces mutation in NFU1 protein and severe mitochondrial dysfunction in humans. In patients, this mutation co-occurs with PAH in 70% of cases. In rats, it manifests as a spontaneous PAH phenotype with severe metabolic alterations. Although the NFU1 mutation in humans is rare, her team has discovered an unrecognized decrease in NFU1 expression and signaling in idiopathic PAH (IPAH) patients, supporting the high relevance of this model to human PAH population without NFU1 mutation.

Dr. Rafikova’s laboratory currently focuses on the comprehensive characterization of the NFU1G206C model, dissecting the interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction and diverse pathological features, including altered pulmonary angiogenesis, cardiac dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and hematological abnormalities.

Dr. Rafikova’s research interests also include investigating the pulmonary vascular network and the dynamic interactions between capillaries and larger vessels. This system-level approach provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying pulmonary vascular damage and metabolic disturbances, offering a transformative understanding of the disease. The research of Dr. Rafikova’s laboratory also extends into the realm of sex biology, addressing critical gaps in our knowledge of sex-based differences in PAH prevalence, progression, and outcomes. Her projects aim to uncover novel mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in PAH, setting the stage for personalized therapeutic strategies.