Dr. Nhat-Tu Le is a Scientist and Associate Professor of Vascular Biology in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Cardiovascular Sciences Institute for Academic Medicine at Houston Methodist Research Institute. She holds adjunct associate professorships at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas A&M University. Dr. Le has been awarded three NIH grants to investigate critical mechanisms in cardiovascular disease, including the role of MAGI1 in atherosclerosis, LATS1/2 in thrombosis, and the impact of cellular senescence on cardiovascular health.

Dr. Le earned her bachelor’s degree in microbiology (1997) and master’s degree in science, Microbiology (2001) from the University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Early in her career, she worked as a Quality Control Manager at LG-Vina factory-DeBon Cosmetics and later as Assistant Director of Research and Development and Regulatory Affairs at ICA Pharmaceutical LTD in Vietnam.

In 2004, Dr. Le pursued a Ph.D. in Microbiology at Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea, focusing on the Streptococcus pneumoniae heat shock protein ClpL and its role in bacterial adherence to host cells. Her work earned an outstanding poster award at the Federation of Korean Microbiological Societies in 2007. After completing her Ph.D. in 2008, she conducted postdoctoral training at the University of Rochester under Dr. Jun-ichi Abe, where she investigated the p90RSK-ERK5 complex in cardiovascular biology. Her work during this time earned multiple honors, including the AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010-2012) and the AHA Scientific Development Grant (2013-2016).

In 2014, Dr. Le joined the Department of Cardiology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center as an Assistant Professor. In 2017, she was recruited to Houston Methodist as an Associate Professor, where she received the Career Cornerstone Award (2017-2021) from the Houston Methodist Institute for Academic Medicine. Dr. Le has authored 58 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, contributing significantly to vascular biology and cardiovascular disease research.

Dr. Le’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms that regulate endothelial function and contribute to cardiovascular disease. Her work spans several key areas:

• SUMOylation and Vascular Dysfunction: Dr. Le’s lab studies how SUMOylation, a post-translational modification, affects endothelial cell aging, activation, and apoptosis under stress conditions like shear stress and radiation. These processes are crucial in understanding the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications from cancer treatments.
• MAGI1 in Endothelial Integrity: Her team investigates the role of MAGI1, a tight junction protein, in modulating endothelial responses to stress and inflammation, including its interaction with viral proteins like SARS-CoV-2. This research aims to uncover new strategies for maintaining endothelial health during disease and therapy-induced stress.
• Premature Aging and Cardiovascular Disease: Dr. Le explores the relationship between cancer therapies and premature vascular aging, particularly how cellular senescence accelerates atherosclerosis in patients undergoing cancer treatments. This research aims to mitigate cardiovascular risks in cancer survivors.
• TRAF2 and TNIK in Viral Infections: The lab studies the roles of TRAF2 and TNIK in regulating immune responses and endothelial function during viral infections, shedding light on mechanisms that could be targeted for therapeutic interventions.
• Aerobic Exercise and Endothelial Health: Dr. Le’s ongoing research includes studying how aerobic exercise-induced shear stress affects the DDIAS-ACLY complex, a key regulator of endothelial metabolism and angiogenesis. This work aims to develop exercise-based therapies for improving vascular health and preventing cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Le’s research is dedicated to translating basic science into clinical applications, with the goal of developing innovative therapies for cardiovascular disease, particularly for patients at risk due to cancer treatments or stresses-related vascular dysfunction.