News & Announcements

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.