Vivian Lee-Kim, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School Medical School Department Pediatrics | Molecular Biology Biography Vivian Lee, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Molecular Biology. Dr. Lee earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington and her Ph.D. in Developmental, Regenerative, and Stem Cell Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. During her graduate studies, she investigated coding mutations in extracellular matrix genes responsible for thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. As a postdoctoral fellow, she studied noncoding variations associated with coronary artery disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she was later promoted to Instructor in Medicine. Dr. Lee joined the faculty at UT Southwestern Medical Center in 2024. The Lee Lab is dedicated to leveraging human genetics to explore the complex interactions between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix, with a particular focus on cardiovascular development and disease. In addition to scientific research, the lab is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment. We emphasize compassion, mutual respect, and a collaborative spirit that empowers each member of the lab to achieve their career aspirations. Research Interest Cardiovascular development and disease Human and molecular genetics Publications Featured Publications Convergence of coronary artery disease genes onto endothelial cell programs. Schnitzler GR, Kang H, Fang S, Angom RS, Lee-Kim VS, Ma XR, Zhou R, Zeng T, Guo K, Taylor MS, Vellarikkal SK, Barry AE, Sias-Garcia O, Bloemendal A, Munson G, Guckelberger P, Nguyen TH, Bergman DT, Hinshaw S, Cheng N, Cleary B, Aragam K, Lander ES, Finucane HK, Mukhopadhyay D, Gupta RM, Engreitz JM, Nature 2024 Feb 626 8000 799-807 Multiomic Analysis and CRISPR Perturbation Screens Identify Endothelial Cell Programs and Novel Therapeutic Targets for Coronary Artery Disease. Gupta RM, Schnitzler GR, Fang S, Lee-Kim VS, Barry A, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023 May 43 5 600-608 Increases in hydraulic conductance and solute permeability in a mouse model of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Crandall CL, Kim SY, Rother J, Lee VS, Mecham RP, Wagenseil JE, J Biomech 2022 Dec 145 111360 CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing of Primary Human Vascular Cells In Vitro. Atri DS, Lee-Kim VS, Vellarikkal SK, Sias-Garcia O, Yanamandala M, Schniztler GR, Gupta RM, Curr Protoc 2021 Nov 1 11 e291 Rare, Damaging DNA Variants in CORIN and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease: Insights From Functional Genomics and Large-Scale Sequencing Analyses. Wang M, Lee-Kim VS, Atri DS, Elowe NH, Yu J, Garvie CW, Won HH, Hadaya JE, MacDonald BT, Trindade K, Melander O, Rader DJ, Natarajan P, Kathiresan S, Kaushik VK, Khera AV, Gupta RM, Circ Genom Precis Med 2021 Oct 14 5 e003399 The March of Monocytes in Atherosclerosis: One Cell at a Time. Gupta RM, Lee-Kim VS, Libby P, Circ Res 2020 May 126 10 1324-1326 Intracellular retention of mutant lysyl oxidase leads to aortic dilation in response to increased hemodynamic stress. Lee VS, Halabi CM, Broekelmann TJ, Trackman PC, Stitziel NO, Mecham RP, JCI Insight 2019 Jun 5 15 Fibulin-4 is essential for maintaining arterial wall integrity in conduit but not muscular arteries. Halabi CM, Broekelmann TJ, Lin M, Lee VS, Chu ML, Mecham RP Sci Adv 2017 May 3 5 e1602532 Syndecan-1 Attenuates Lung Injury during Influenza Infection by Potentiating c-Met Signaling to Suppress Epithelial Apoptosis. Brauer R, Ge L, Schlesinger SY, Birkland TP, Huang Y, Parimon T, Lee V, McKinney BL, McGuire JK, Parks WC, Chen P, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2016 Aug 194 3 333-44 Loss of function mutation in LOX causes thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection in humans. Lee VS, Halabi CM, Hoffman EP, Carmichael N, Leshchiner I, Lian CG, Bierhals AJ, Vuzman D, Mecham RP, Frank NY, Stitziel NO, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016 Aug 113 31 8759-64 Results 1-10 of 13 1 2 Next Last Honors & Awards Lerner Junior Faculty AwardBrigham and Women's Hospital (2023) Rising Star in Biological SciencesUniversity of Chicago (2023) Department of Medicine Chair's Research AwardBrigham and Women's Hospital (2022) K99/R00 NHLBI MOSAIC Pathway to Independence AwardThe National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2022) NRSA F31 Predoctoral FellowshipThe National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2017) Young Scientist AwardEuropean Elastin Meeting (2016) Professional Associations/Affiliations American Heart Association North American Vascular Biology Organization
