Paula Reventun Torralba, PhD

About

Biography

I am Paula Reventun Torralba, PhD, an assistant professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. My research is focused on endothelial cell biology, vesicle trafficking and the mechanisms that regulate thrombosis and cardiovascular disease. Overall, my laboratory research team members aim to define how specific genes regulate endothelial secretion and thrombus formation, with the long-term goal of identifying new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism.

My laboratory specifically combines vascular biology, human genetics, proteomics, mouse models and stem-cell-derived vascular systems to understand how genetic variation influences endothelial function and thrombotic risk. A major goal of my research is to translate discoveries from genome-wide association studies into mechanistic insights into venous thromboembolism and related cardiovascular disorders.

One major focus of my current research program is CD36, a newly identified regulator of factor VIII secretion. Factor VIII is an essential coagulation protein and a major determinant of thrombotic risk, but the endothelial pathways controlling its release remain incompletely understood. My work has shown that CD36 regulates factor VIII secretion from liver endothelial cells, and ongoing studies are defining the downstream mechanisms involved, including trafficking, cytoskeletal remodeling and vesicle secretion, as well as the role of endothelial CD36 in thrombosis in vivo.

A second area of interest is endothelial vesicle trafficking. My work has shown that RAB5C regulates von Willebrand factor secretion from endothelial cells. We are now developing mouse models to investigate how RAB5C contributes to thrombosis and vascular disease.

I have coauthored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles in journals including Blood, Blood Advances, Nature Communications, Circulation Research and Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. I’m also involved with professional organizations including the American Heart Association, and I’m a member of the CHARGE Consortium Hemostasis Working Group.

Credentials

Research