Lakehead U Vice President (Research) Honoured by American Physiology Society

(Thunder Bay - April 15, 2005) Lakehead University's Vice President (Research), Dr. Rui Wang, has been elected as a Fellow of the Cardiovascular Section of the American Physiology Society (APS).

APS is a non-profit organization devoted to fostering education, scientific research, and dissemination of information in the physiological sciences. The Society was founded in 1887 with 27 members. APS now has over 10,500 members. Most members have doctoral degrees in physiology and/or medicine (or other health professions). Dr. Wang was honoured during the 15th International Congress of Physiology Sciences in San Diego, March 31 to April 5, 2005.

The Fellowship of APS is an elected position to recognize established investigators who have demonstrated continuous, meritorious research in physiology.

"This Fellowship is a privilege, and I am pleased to be recognized in such a fashion by my peers," Dr. Wang says.

Dr. Wang has made major contributions to the establishment of the concept of gasotransmitters, a small group of gas molecules produced in our body including nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide. His research has elucidated the importance of carbon monoxide in the regulation of calcium-activated potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells as well as a novel hemin therapy to induce long-lasting anti-hypertensive effect. Dr. Wang also provides the first evidence that hydrogen sulfide, generated in our body, opens ATP-sensitive potassium channels to modulate cardiovascular functions.