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Lisa M. Harrison-Bernard, PhD, FAPS, FAHA, FASN

Professor of Physiology and Nursing
Director:  LSUHSC-New Orleans Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) in Biomedical Sciences

Lioin's Building
2020 Gravier Street
Room 725
Phone: (504) 568-6175
Fax: (504) 568-6158

lharris@lsuhsc.edu

Degrees

  • PhD, Tulane University

Bio

Diabetes affects 29 million Americans and is the 6th leading cause of death in the US. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. This chronic and debilitating disease is characterized by progressive proteinuria, declining glomerular filtration rate, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.  

Our research focuses on how the effects of two important hormonal systems, renin-angiotensin and endothelin, contribute to the failure of normal kidney blood vessel function and lead to the development and progression of kidney disease in type II diabetic patients. The research is focused on determining the role of intrarenal production of angiotensin and endothelin-1 via chymase-dependent pathways to the microvascular and glomerular dysfunction contributing to the progression of diabetic kidney disease.   Most important, blocking the actions of a specific enzyme, chymase, may provide a new therapeutic drug target to reduce the influence of these hormonal systems on diabetic kidney disease.  Our research utilizes the highly clinically relevant obese type II diabetic db/db mouse which exhibits many of the principal features of human diabetic nephropathy.

Teaching Activities

  • Teaching Expertise: Present: Renal Physiology to Medical, Graduate, Dental, Allied Health, and Undergraduate Nursing Students
  • Course Directorship: 2008 - 2013: DHY 3202 - Dental Hygiene General and Oral Physiology; 2016 - 2018: HLSC 2410 - Nursing Human Physiology Course
  • Co-Directorship: 2014 - 2016, 2019-Present: HLSC 2410 - Nursing Human Physiology Course; 2021 - Present: Human Physiology for Medical Students
  • Facilitator:  2017- Present: Clinical Skills Integration for Medical Students

Committees & Administrative Responsibilities

Professional Society Committies

  • 2013 - Present  Association for Women in Science South Louisiana Chapter (AWIS-SL) Chair of Awards
  • 2014 - 2016      AWIS-SL Secretary
  • 2019 - 2022      American Physiological Society Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
  • 2020 - 2022      AWIS-SL President

School of Medicine Committees

  • 2007 -  Present  Sabbatical Leave Committee
  • 2010 - Present   Member of Committee on Women's Affairs
  • 2011 - Present   Member of Committee on Academic Standards
  • 2016 - Present   Curriculum Subcommittee on Addressing Cultural Competencies
  • 2018 - Present   Academic Collaboration for Health Equity
  • 2020 - Present   Appointments and Promotions Committee

Departmental Committees

  • 2010 - 2014       Physiology Graduate Student
  • 2017 - Present  Physiology Graduate Student
  • 2010 - 2014      Chair Physiology Graduate Student Mentoring
  • 2017 - Present  Chair Physiology Graduate Student Mentoring
  • 2014 - Present  Graduate Student Recruitment Task Force
  • 2018 - Present  Chair of Training and Mentoring Task Force

Selected Publications

  • Harrison-Bernard LM, Naljayan MV, Mercante DE, Gunaldo TP, Edwards S. Longitudinal interprofessional education in a graduate physiology course. Adv. Physiol. Educ. 43(2): 241-245, 2019. PMID: 31088161
  • Bivona BJ, Takai S, Seth DM, Satou R, Harrison-Bernard LM.  Chymase inhibition retards albuminuria in type 2 diabetes. Physiol Rep. 7(24):e14302, 2019. PMID: 31872559
  • Harrison-Bernard LM, Augustus-Wallace AC, Souza-Smith FM, Tsien F, Casey GP, Gunaldo TP. Knowledge gains in a professional development workshop on diversity, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias in academia.  Adv. Physiol. Educ. 44 (3): 286-294, 2020. PMID: 32484403
  • Primeaux, S.D., Harrison-Bernard, L.M., & Barnes, M.J. ‘Neurophysiology of the Hypothalamus’. In G.I. Uwaifo Eds. The Hypothalamus: Anatomy, Dysfunction and Disease Management Springer Publishing. 2021

Additional Info

Curriculum Vitae

PubMed Link

Funded Grant

1 R25 GM148309-01, “LSUHSC-New Orleans Postbaccalaureate Re-search Education Program in Biomedical Sciences” Total Direct:  1,300,756.  Total Support: $1,387,836.  Role: Principal Investigator/Director; Co-Directors:  Allison C. Augustus-Wallace and Jovanny Zabaleta; Program Coordinator: Stefany Primeaux; Program Administrator: Melissa D. Prestwood

Cardiovascular Center of Excellence