Graduate Student, Department of Cell Biology
Mentor: Audrey Clueren, Ph.D.
Megan-Ballard@ou.edu
My research focuses on understanding how endothelial dysfunction contributes to organ injury during sepsis. I study how changes in endothelial metabolism, particularly increased glycolysis driven by the enzyme PFKFB3, contribute to systemic inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and acute kidney injury. Using a murine model of sepsis, I investigate whether targeting PFKFB3 (pharmacologically and genetically) can preserve endothelial function and reduce kidney injury. Ultimately, this work aims to identify metabolic pathways that could be targeted to develop new therapeutic strategies for patients with sepsis.