Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Dr. Pownall’s doctoral training was in physical chemistry with postdoctoral fellowships in molecular spectroscopy at the University of Houston, and biochemistry at Baylor College of Medicine with an emphasis on lipid metabolism. Over time he moved his studies from molecules to in vivo models, studying biophysics, peptide design, lipid synthesis and enzymology, and cell and molecular biology. His work is centered on high density lipoprotein therapeutics, and energy metabolism as it relates to obesity-linked diabetes and human lipid metabolism. A major goal of his research is to determine how alcohol ingestion contributes to enhanced postprandial lipemia, attendant pancreatitis, or alcohol-induced reduction of cardiovascular disease, an effect mediated by increased HDL-cholesterol.
His research is multidisciplinary, with extensive collaboration with structural biologists, endocrinologists, and x-ray crystallographers. Structural biologists provide expertise in lipid and lipoprotein structure by electron cryo microscopy. Endocrinologists have synergistic interests in the lipid disorders found in HIV-positive patients on highly active anti retroviral therapies. X-ray crystallographers help discern the total structure of Streptococcal serum opacity factor (SOF) for determination of structure function relationships.
Dr. Pownall maintains an active academic program. He is a member of three graduate programs at Baylor College of Medicine (Structural Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Cardiovascular Sciences) in which he teaches classes and serves on graduate advisory and qualifying exams committees. He is also active in community education, giving lectures on molecular ethics to local groups including several churches, home owner associations and garden clubs.
Research interests
Dr. Pownall’s studies encompass multiple aspects of lipid metabolism, particularly HDL structure, properties and function in the context of obesity-linked diabetes and atherogenesis. His research goals are as follows:
-To determine if Streptococcal serum opacity factor (SOF) can enhance cholesterol disposal and reverse atherosclerosis
-To obtain a high resolution X-ray structure of SOF for the identification of active sites and design of SOF analogs
-To compare the energy storage potential of central and femoral gluteal depots, as they relate to obesity-linked diabetes
-To assess the effects of acetate, as an alcohol metabolite and in the food supply, on HDL levels and the onset of pancreatitis
Education/Academic qualification
Biochemistry, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine
Chemistry, PhD, Northeastern University
Photochemistry & Spectroscopy, Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Houston
Chemistry, MS, Wilkes College, Wilkes-Barre, PA
Research Area Keywords
- Heart & Vascular
Free-text keywords
- Physical chemistry
- Obesity-linked diabetes
- Cholesterol transport
- Atherogenesis
- Fluorescence
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Dysfunctional High Density Lipoprotein Free Cholesterol Bioavailability and Atherogenesis
Pownall, H. J. (PI), Gillard, B. K. (Key Personnel), Nasir, K. (Key Personnel), Patel, K. V. (Key Personnel) & Rosales, C. (Key Personnel)
3/21/24 → …
Project: Clinical Trial
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Human Atherogenesis with Underlying Dysfunctional HDL-Free Cholesterol
Pownall, H. J. (PI)
4/4/23 → 2/28/27
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
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Atheroprotection via Reduced Plasma High Density Lipoprotein-Free Cholesterol Bioavailability
Pownall, H. J. (PI), Rosales, C. (PI) & Gillard, B. K. (Key Personnel)
12/1/19 → 11/30/24
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
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The role of steroid receptor coactivator-2 in coordinating stress-activated angiogenesis in the myocardium
Pownall, H. J. (PI), Blanco, E. (Key Personnel) & Cooke, J. P. (Key Personnel)
7/1/19 → 6/30/22
Project: Non Profit
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Transdifferentiation of fibroblasts to endothelial cells contributes to angiogenesis - Role of TLR3 signaling
Cooke, J. P. (Key Personnel) & Pownall, H. J. (Key Personnel)
7/1/17 → 9/30/20
Project: Non Profit
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Associations between decreases in adiposity and reductions in HbA1c and insulin use in the Look AHEAD cohort
Palmer, R., Neiberg, R. H., Beavers, K. M., Kahn, S. E., Houston, D. K., Wagenknecht, L., Johnson, K. C., Pownall, H. J., Espeland, M. A. & For the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Aging Study Group, Mar 2025, In: Obesity. 33, 3, p. 612-620 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Foamy monocytes and atherogenesis in mice with combined hyperlipidemia and effects of antisense knockdown of apoCIII
Peng, X., Lian, Z., O'Brien, V., Xiao, J., Litchfield, B. A., Perrard, X. Y. D., Xu, L., Ni, J., Mukherjee, A., Simmons, T., Dong, H., Mullick, A. E., Crooke, R., Pownall, H. J., Simon, S. I., Ballantyne, C. M. & Wu, H., Apr 2025, In: Journal of lipid research. 66, 4, 100763.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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HDL-free cholesterol influx into macrophages and transfer to LDL correlate with HDL-free cholesterol content
Yelamanchili, D., Gillard, B. K., Gotto, A. M., Achirica, M. C., Nasir, K., Remaley, A. T., Rosales, C. & Pownall, H. J., Jan 2025, In: Journal of lipid research. 66, 1, p. 100707 100707.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Rational Design of Safer Inorganic Nanoparticles via Mechanistic Modeling-Informed Machine Learning
Cave, J., Christiono, A., Schiavone, C., Pownall, H. J., Cristini, V., Staquicini, D. I., Pasqualini, R., Arap, W., Brinker, C. J., Campen, M., Wang, Z., Van Nguyen, H., Noureddine, A. & Dogra, P., Jun 17 2025, In: ACS Nano. 19, 23, p. 21538-21555 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Long-term sustained effects of the Look AHEAD lifestyle intervention on body composition among adults with type 2 diabetes
Ashby-Thompson, M., Heshka, S., Anderson, A., Pownall, H., Laferrère, B., Balasubramanyam, A., Heymsfield, S. B., Wadden, T. A. & Gallagher, D., Jun 2024, In: Obesity. 32, 6, p. 1093-1101 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access3 Scopus citations
Prizes
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President's Awards - Excellence in Research
Pownall, H. J. (Recipient), Sep 10 2023
Prize: Other distinction