Dr. Kobayashi receives a 3-year NIH R15 award of $573,750 to study lysosomal membrane permeabilization.
Posted on July 14, 2026•Grant
Dr. Satoru Kobayashi (PI) has been awarded a new NIH Research Enhancement Award (1R15HL179642-01A1) from the National Institutes of Health. The project, titled 'Redefining The Role Of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization (LMP) In Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity', is funded for $573,750 from July 2026 through June 2029. This research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and develop novel protective strategies for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Koba Lab students present their first-author research at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions.
Posted on July 12, 2026•Presentation
Student researchers Jack Chin (first author) and Ronald James Lospenuso III (first author) presented their latest findings at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Scientific Sessions 2026 in Boston, MA. Jack presented on 'Doxorubicin induced differential response of lysosome-associated proteins in human cardiomyocytes,' and Ronald presented on 'AMPK γ1 and γ2 Isoforms Protect Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Autophagy Regulation.' both demonstrating outstanding academic achievements as lead investigators in their projects.
Oral and poster presentations on mitochondria-lysosome contact dynamics in Minneapolis.
Posted on April 22, 2026•Presentation
Dr. Satoru Kobayashi presented an oral and poster session titled 'Live-cell imaging reveals altered mitochondria-lysosome contact dynamics in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity' at the American Physiology Summit (APS) 2026 in Minneapolis, MN, highlighting advanced microscopy techniques and lysosomal dynamics in cardiotoxicity.
Heba Ahmed is featured as first author presenting on SMURF1 regulation of cardiomyocyte death.
Posted on July 22, 2025•Presentation
Student researcher Heba Ahmed (first author) represented the Koba Lab at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Scientific Sessions 2025 in Baltimore, MD. She presented her research titled 'Ubiquitin E3 ligase SMURF1 Alleviates Doxorubicin-Induced Lysosomal Injury and Cardiomyocyte Death' as lead author.
Naman Kapoor is featured as first author presenting on Imidazoline Receptor Agonists.
Posted on April 23, 2025•Presentation
Student researcher Naman Kapoor (first author) presented the research project 'Imidazoline Receptor Agonists Alleviate Doxorubicin-Induced Lysosomal Injury and Cardiomyocyte Death' at the American Physiology Summit (APS) 2025 in Baltimore, MD, highlighting new receptor agonists targeting cardiomyocyte protection.
Oral presentation by Dr. Kobayashi and first-author student Isabella Church presenting in Texas.
Posted on September 25, 2024•Presentation
Koba Lab presented several key works in Autumn 2024. Dr. Satoru Kobayashi was selected for an oral presentation titled 'Redefining the Role of lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) in Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity' at the 3rd NYC Inter-Institutional Cardiovascular Retreat in Old Westbury, NY. Additionally, student researcher Isabella Church (first author) presented 'AMPK β1 knockdown increases autophagy flux and Doxorubicin-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte death' at the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) OMED 2024 conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Collaboration grant of $100,000 awarded by the American Osteopathic Association.
Posted on August 31, 2024•Grant
Dr. Satoru Kobayashi, as co-PI along with PI Dr. Jayme Mancini, has received an American Osteopathic Association Research Grant. The project, titled 'Fluid dynamics of concussion in mixed martial arts in a pilot randomized controlled trial of OMM', will run from September 2024 through February 2026, with total funding of $100,000.
Three Koba Lab students present their first-author abstracts at the Chicago sessions.
Posted on July 21, 2024•Presentation
Three student researchers from the Koba Lab presented their first-author research abstracts at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Scientific Sessions 2024 in Chicago, IL (July 22-25). Demarcus Nasef (first author) presented on 'Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyocyte Death is mediated by Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization', John Yarbro (first author) presented on 'P21-activated kinase 1 mediated autophagy regulation', and Lionel Chong (first author) presented on 'PAK1 regulates cardiomyocyte autophagy through p62' at both BCVS and the 6th Asian Cardiovascular Symposium.
Koba Lab students present their first-author research abstracts in Boston, MA.
Posted on July 30, 2023•Presentation
Student researchers Younghee Hahn (first author) and Shawn Geffken (first author) presented their research findings at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Scientific Sessions 2023 in Boston, MA. Younghee presented on 'Glucolipotoxicity Curtails Mitophagy In Cardiomyocytes' and Shawn presented on 'P62 Overexpression Rescues Defective Autophagy Flux In Cardiomyocytes Deficient In P21 Activated Kinase 1', contributing valuable insights to molecular cardiology.
Jennifer Van (first author) publishes on Metformin mechanisms and cardioprotection.
Posted on March 14, 2023•Publication
Student researcher Jennifer Van (first author) published her study titled 'Metformin Inhibits Autophagy, Mitophagy and Antagonizes Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyocyte Death' in the International Journal of Drug Discovery and Pharmacology. This publication was later awarded the prestigious 'Best Article 2024' distinction for its significant therapeutic insights into preventing cardiomyocyte death during chemotherapy.
Funding of $428,400 awarded by NIH to investigate lysosomal membrane permeabilization.
Posted on February 14, 2022•Grant
Our lab has been awarded an NIH Research Enhancement Award (1R15HL161737-01). The project, titled 'Deciphering the role of lysosomal membrane permeabilization in Diabetic Cardiac Injury', will receive $428,400 in funding from February 2022 through January 2025. This award supports our ongoing mission to investigate how high glucose levels injure lysosomes and to find therapeutic ways to protect the heart.
Highlighting past achievements and recognitions of student researchers in the Koba Lab.
Posted on June 22, 2021•Awards
Our lab has a strong track record of mentoring students to successful outcomes. Notable awards include Tony Nguyen receiving the AOA Research Training Grant ($5,000), Jaclyn Del Pozzo being selected as one of six finalists for oral presentation in the Jay N. Cohn New Investigator Award at the HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting, and Amanda Kaminaris receiving the ASBMB Graduate/Postdoctoral Travel Award ($1,000) for her work on AMPK regulation of mitophagy in the heart.
An introduction to our lab's core research philosophy and research targets.
Posted on December 31, 2020•Mission
Our research mission is to save the 'Boiling Frogs.' In diabetes, the heart cells are slowly injured by sugar, but the defense system fails to react, like a frog in boiling water. We study how sugar injures lysosomes—the defense force inside your heart cells—and investigate ways to repair lysosomal injuries to protect your heart.
