Vivek Garg, PhD

1999 - B.Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Panjab University, India

2002 - M.Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Panjab University, India

2009 - Ph.D./M.S. Pharmacology, Ohio State University

2014 - Postdoctoral fellow, University of Utah

2020 - Researcher, University of California San Francisco

The focus of our research is the molecular physiology of mitochondrial calcium signaling, and its role in human physiology and disease states. Using an interdisciplinary approach leveraging direct patch-clamp methods on intracellular organelles like mitochondria with cell biology and omics (genomics/proteomics/metabolomics) techniques, we aim to decipher the fundamental mechanisms that regulate mitochondrial membrane excitability and ion homeostasis, that in turn, affect cellular excitability and metabolic plasticity.

I completed my graduate studies under the supervision of Dr. Keli Hu at The Ohio State University, where I studied the metabolic regulation of both cardiac and vascular ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels. I subsequently trained with Dr. Michael Sanguinetti at the University of Utah, where I examined the molecular physiology of several cardiac K⁺ channels (hERG/hEAG and Slo2.1) and their modulation by small drug molecules. I then undertook training with Dr. Alexey Zaitsev in the same institute. In his lab I developed a whole heart model of VF/ischemia, and explored pathological mechanisms that lead to early electrical failure during sudden cardiac death.

In my recent work with Dr. Yuriy Kirichok at University of California, I developed a recombinant cell system with improved throughput and stable electrophysiological recordings of mitochondrial ion channels. Using this system, we performed the first comprehensive patch-clamp analysis of the calcium-dependent regulation of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) by EF-hand containing accessory subunits, MICU1‒3.

My lab aims to answer fundamental questions related to the role of mitochondrial calcium signaling in cellular bioenergetics, specifically how mitochondria take up and release Ca²⁺, how seemingly small alterations in mitochondrial calcium signaling affect cellular or tissue bioenergetics and create a substrate for complex disorders via interaction with other genes or homeostatic processes.

Mitochondrial biology, calcium and redox signaling, cardiovascular physiology, muscle physiology, ion channels, transporters, membrane biophysics, electrophysiology, confocal imaging, metabolic disorders (Heart failure).

Kumari A, Nguyen D; Garg V (2023). "Patch clamp technique to study mitochondrial membrane biophysics", Journal of General Physiology 155 (8): e202313347.

Fefelova N, Wongjaikam S, Pamarthi SH, Siri-Angkul N, Comollo T, Kumari A, Garg V, Ivessa A, Chattipakorn SC, Chattipakorn N, Gwathmey JK, Xie LH (2023) "Deficiency of mitochondrial calcium uniporter abrogates iron overload-induced cardiac dysfunction by reducing ferroptosis" Basic Research in Cardiology 118 (1): 21.

Garg V, Paranjpe I, Unsulangi T, Suzuki J, Milescu LS, Kirichok YK (2021) "The Mechanism of MICU-Dependent Gating of the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter”, eLife. Aug 31;10:e69312. PMID: 34463251 ​

Garg V, Garg V, Shrestha R,  Sanguinetti MC, Kamp TJ, Wu JC (2018) "Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Cardiomyocytes as Models for Cardiac Channelopathies: A Primer for Non-Electrophysiologist", Circ Res. Jul 6; 123(2): 224-243.​  PMCID: PMC6136439

Garg V, Taylor T, Warren M, Venable P, Sciuto K, Shibayama J, Zaitsev A (2015) "β-Adrenergic Stimulation and Rapid Pacing Mutually Promote Heterogeneous Electrical Failure and Ventricular Fibrillation in the Globally Ischemic Heart", Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. May 1; 308(9): H1155-70.  PMCID: PMC4551128

Venable PW,* Sciuto KJ,* Warren M, Taylor TG, Garg V, Shibayama J, and Zaitsev AV (2015) “Mitochondrial depolarization and asystole in the globally ischemic rabbit heart: coordinated response to interventions affecting energy balance”, Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. Mar 1;308(5):H485-99.  PMCID: PMC4346765

Garg V, Stary-Weinzinger A, Sanguinetti MC (2013) “ICA-105574 Interacts with a Common Binding Site to Elicit Opposite Effects on Inactivation Gating of EAG and ERG Potassium Channels”, Molecular pharmacology 83 (4), 805-813.  PMCID: PMC3608434

Garg V, Sachse FB, Sanguinetti MC (2012) “Tuning of EAG K+ channel inactivation: Molecular determinants of amplification by mutations and a small molecule”, The Journal of General Physiology 140 (3), 307-324.  PMCID: PMC3434097