Arul Veerappan, PhD

Our research laboratory uses both human and animal models to study environmental and occupational exposures such as ambient particulate matter, world trade center particulate matter, wildfire, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, radiation and chemical warfare agents —underlying the adverse pulmonary, cardiac, renal and vascular effects. We collaborate with other investigators from various divisions such as Pulmonary, Cardiology, Nephrology and Hematology/Oncology within the Department of Medicine as well as other departments such as Pediatrics and Radiation Oncology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and other academic institutions across the nation.  

1. Our laboratory investigates the early vascular injury and end organ dysfunction in World Trade Center (WTC)-Particulate Matter (WTC-PM) exposed and affected by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). PM is the main component of WTC dust, and the exposure of WTC- PM includes effects such as systemic inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and subsequent end-organ damage. Epidemiologic investigations have documented associations between increased PM, lung, cardiovascular and kidney diseases such as chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Additionally, metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is often associated with kidney damage, and we have seen MetSyn in a large population of our Fire Department of New York (FDNY) study cohort. This leads to the possible risk of end organ damage such as cardio-renal disease in WTC-PM exposed FDNY first responders. Further, CKD remains one of the leading causes of mortality and is characterized by a marked and reduction of renal artery flow. This yields tissue ischemia, renal injury and fibrosis. Hence, we investigate early phenotypic changes and identify related kidney biomarkers and cardio-renal vascular setting after WTC-PM exposure.
2. Our lab also examines the mechanisms responsible for cardiac dysfunction and cardiovascular tissue remodeling induced by total body irradiation, and to identify and develop medical countermeasures to mitigate and/or treat such injury. Our aim is to examine the cellular, molecular, and extracellular vesicles’ interactions that lead to radiation-induced cardiovascular injury, with a focus on the contribution of genetic factors. We study the role of genetic factors in murine models of disease, using both classic knock-out murine models and computational genomics approaches.
3. Hyperoxia exposure in pre-mature babies as well as pre-natal exposure of alternative tobacco products such as vaping/e-cigarettes, which produce significant adverse cardiopulmonary effects, is another focus of our lab.   
4. Our lab also examines the mechanisms responsible for heavy metals such as cadmium, nickel, arsenic and endocrine disruptors such as bisphenols-induced carcinogenesis.
5. Another focus of our laboratory is air pollution and health effects which includes ambient air quality monitoring, air sampling, chemical analysis and toxicological studies. Our study further examines the health effects of the most vulnerable population, who are often affected by wildfire due to climate change, and its global health impacts.

Our recent research has assessed the exposure of particulate matter from various occupational settings. Our lab also investigates the acute and chronic toxicity effects of collected particulate matter both in vitro and in vivo models.