Professor and the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund Eminent Scholar at VT Carilion Research Institute
Director of the Center for Cardiovascular and Regenerative Biology - VTCRI
Director of Emergency Medicine Research, Carilion Clinic
Professor of the Virginia Tech Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences
Research Focus
The research of the Gourdie lab is on the subunit proteins of gap junctions—connexins. This work encompasses both basic and practical /translational aspects. In basic research the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the carboxyl terminal domain of Cx43 in regulating gap junction remodeling and electrical conduction in the normal and arrhythmic heart are under study. In more practically oriented work, Cx43 assignments in wound healing, scarring, and regeneration are under intensive research. The lab is developing a platform of drugs targeting Cx43 function. The first candidate is a mimetic of the carboxyl terminus of Cx43(aCT1). Based on our results in skin and heart, we have been granted three patents in regenerative medicine. The lab currently has another five patents pending on small molecules and stem cell technologies. One of our technologies is now in phase II clinical trials, which is expected to be completed in November 2012.
Selected Publications
Grek, C. L.; Prasad, G. M.; Viswanathan, V.; Armstrong, D. G.; Gourdie, R. G.; Ghatnekar, G. S. Topical administration of a Connexin43-based peptide augments healing of chronic neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers: A multicenter, randomized trial. Wound Repair Regen. 2015 Feb 19. doi: 10.1111/wrr.12275. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 25703647
Ghatnekar, G. S.; Grek, C. L.; Armstrong, D. G., Desai, S. C.; Gourdie, R. G. The effect of a connexin43-based Peptide on the healing of chronic venous leg ulcers: a multicenter, randomized trial. J Invest Dermatol. 2015 Jan;135(1):289-98. doi: 10.1038/jid.2014.318. Epub 2014 Jul 29. 32.
Rhett, J. M.; Jourdan, J.; Gourdie, R.G. Connexin 43 connexon to gap junction transition is regulated by zonula occludens-1. Mol Biol Cell. 2011 May;22(9):1516-28. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E10-06-0548. Epub 2011 Mar 16.PMID: 21411628
Soder, B. L.; Propst, J. T.; Brooks, T. M.; Goodwin, R. L.; Friedman, H. I. Yost, M. J.; Gourdie, R. G. The connexin43 carboxyl-terminal peptide ACT1 modulates the biological response to silicone implants. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009 May;123(5):1440-51. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181a0741d. PMID: 19407614
Ghatnekar, G. S.; O’Quinn, M. P.; Jourdan, L. J.; Gurjarpadhye, A. A.; Draughn, R. L.; Gourdie, R. G. Connexin43 carboxyl-terminal peptides reduce scar progenitor and promote regenerative healing following skin wounding. Regen Med. 2009 Mar;4(2):205-23. doi: 10.2217/17460751.4.2.205.