Dr. Eric Lazartigues, Professor, received his Bachelor of Sciences in 1993 from University Paul Sabatier of Sciences in Toulouse, France. His Master of Sciences was awarded in 1994 from the University of Pharmacy Claude Bernard of Lyon, France. He received his PhD from University Paul Sabatier of Sciences in Toulouse in 1999. He completed his postdoctoral work at The University of Iowa School of Medicine in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology. Dr. Lazartigues joined the department of Pharmacology at LSU Health Sciences Center in August 2005 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in July 2011. In May 2014, Dr. Lazartigues was joint-appointed to the Neurosciences Center of Excellence. He was promoted to Professor with tenure in July 2015. In 2018, Dr. Lazartigues was admitted into the Veterans Affairs Non-Clinical Research Program and appointed Research Physiologist at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans HealthCare System in 2019.

Peer and International Recognition

Fellow of the American Physiological Society Committee representative for the NCAR section 2021-2023.
Chair of the American Physiological Society International Physiology Committee, 2017-2020.
Chair of the American Physiological Society Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation section, 2015-2018.
Associate Editor and Board Member of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology.
Member of the Porter Physiology Committee of The American Physiological Society, 2011-2014.
Member of the Angiotensin Gordon Research Conference Steering Committee.
Joint Programming Committee Representative for the Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation (NCAR) section of The American Physiological Society, 2011-2014.
Shih-Chun Wang Award from The American Physiological Society, 2010.
Member of the Editorial Board of The American Journal of Physiology-Integrative and Comparative Physiology since 2008.
Member of the Award Committee of The American Physiological Society, 2008-2010.
Elected Fellow of The American Heart Association, 2006.
Merck New Investigator Award from the American Heart Association High Blood Pressure Research Council, 2005.
Van Harreveld Memorial Award from The American Physiological Society CNS section, 2005.
Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation Recognition Award for Meritorious Research by a Young Investigator from The American Physiological Society, 2004.
Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation New Investigator Award from The American Physiological Society, 2003.
Servier Distinguished Young Investigator Award, 2001.

Research Interests

Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) exerts its profound cardiovascular (CV) and volume homeostatic properties through activation of specific receptors, primarily Ang-II type 1 (AT1), located both in the periphery and in the brain. Evidence has shown the importance of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the maintenance of normal blood pressure (BP) and in the development of hypertension. Although, new genetic and pharmacological tools have improved our understanding of the global functioning of this system, the role of its different components and their interactions remain poorly understood due to the difficulty in experimentally dissecting brain versus peripheral RAS. Recently, a new element of the RAS, named ACE2, has been identified and is believed to degrade Ang-II to the vasodilator peptide angiotensin-1-7 (Ang1-7).
Previously, we identified the presence of ACE2 in the brain and our interests focus on the role of this enzyme in modulating the activity of the brain RAS during the development of neurogenic hypertension. Using non-transgenic (NT) and genetically-engineered mice in combination with molecular, physiological, and pharmacological tools, our laboratory is dedicated in assessing the relative physiological significance of central ACE2 in normal and pathophysiological regulation of BP and other CV diseases.
Another project involves the role of ACE2 in the regulation of glycemic function in type 2 diabetes.

Teaching Activities

2011-2018 Advanced Nursing Pharmacology (HLSC 6409); Course Director

2010-present Dental Hygiene (DHY 4101); lecturer

2009-2010 Pharmacology Seminar (PHARM 298 & 299); Course co-Director

2008-2010 Advanced Nursing Pharmacology (HLSC 6409); Course co-Director

2008-2018 Nursing Pharmacology (HLSC 3409); lecturer

2007-2009 Special topics in Physiology: Physiological Reviews (PHYSIO 280); group discussion facilitator

2007-2017 Principles of Pharmacology II, (PHARM 206). Animal models of disease: Hypertension; lecturer

2007-2017 Cell Signaling and Cell Cycle – Drug-receptor interactions module I (PHARM 207); lecturer

Committees & Administrative Responsibilities

2006-2009 LSUHSC-NO Scholarships and Student Awards Committee

2008-2009 Chair of the Department of Pharmacology Seminar Series. Co-Chair: Dr. Catalin Filipeanu

2008-2009 LSUHSC-NO Self Study Committee on Educational Resources for LCME accreditation

2009-2014 LSUHSC-NO International Travel Committee

2014-2016 LSUHSC-NO Faculty Assembly

2018-2021 LSUHSC-NO Committee on Communication

Selected Publications

For a complete list of recent publications, click here.

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