Dr. Schafer is an endocrinologist who focuses on skeletal health. One of her research emphases is osteoporosis treatment. She also studies the relationships between bone, fat, and glucose metabolism. Currently, she is investigating the effects of bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) on calcium metabolism and skeletal health.

Anthony J. Baker, Ph.D. has a longstanding interest in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate cardiac muscle contraction in health and disease. We use multiple approaches to monitor cardiac function in experimental preparations that span a range of complexity from contraction of myofilaments in-vitro, intact single cells, electrically stimulated intact cardiac muscle, intact hearts in-vitro, and intact hearts in-vivo. A major goal is to investigate new therapies to treat heart failure.

Heart failure is a leading cause of death and disability and new therapies are needed to treat this devastating disease. Research in the Baker lab focuses on both of the major pumping chambers of the heart, the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV).

We are investigating the mechanisms causing failure of the LV subsequent to a heart attack, where blood flow stops to a region of the heart resulting in death of muscle cells in that region, termed a myocardial infarction (MI). We are studying the weakened border-zone immediately adjacent to the MI. We are investigating the mechanisms that cause gradual enlargement of this weakened border-zone, ultimately leading to dilation of the heart and LV failure. We are investigating treatments to stabilize the border-zone to slow or halt the progression to heart failure after MI.

We are also investigating the mechanisms involved in failure of the RV. RV failure is relatively understudied and poorly understood. It has been assumed that an understanding of RV failure can be extrapolated from studies of LV failure. In contrast, we have found that the RV has distinctive properties compared to the LV, and the regulation of RV contraction in heart failure differs compared to the failing LV, suggesting that treatment strategies for the failing RV should be tailored to the distinctive biology of the RV.

People who experience traumatic or enduring psychological stress are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders as well as cardiovascular, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disorders. My research is focused on revealing how psychological stress drives the development of mental and physical disorders. Specifically, I aim to identify the psychological and biological factors that account for the adverse effects of psychological stress, and ultimately to drive the development of targeted interventions to reduce such negative effects of stress. To this end, I am currently focused on uncovering stress-related changes in immune system functioning and on examining how such changes impact brain function and structure.

Dr. Wallace is the Chief of the Anesthesia. He is a cardiac anesthesiologist. His research includes development medications to reduce perioperative cardiac risk, design and development of medical monitors and clinical information software, as well as development and testing of surgical procedures.

Dr. Bensing is a VA Research Microbiologist and UCSF Assistant Professor. Her research has focused on the molecular biology of streptococci, and host-pathogen interactions that can render commensal organisms more virulent.  Her current research projects include the identification of plasma and salivary glycoprotein ligands for streptococcal sialoglycan-binding adhesins, and determining how these interactions impact the ability of streptococci to colonize the oral cavity and establish endocardial infections.  In a related project, Dr. Bensing and her team of collaborators are developing a set of glycan-binding probes that will enable the rapid and inexpensive characterization of O-linked glycans on salivary MUC7, as well as other mucins and mucin-like glycoproteins.

Dr. Yeh is active in developing novel applications for computed tomography (CT), which is the dominant clinical imaging method used for the diagnosis and staging of abdominopelvic disorders. His research focuses on improving delivery of contrast materials used in CT scans and on better quantifying their physiological effects.

Dr. Halloran's current studies include work to develop new nutritional based therapies for age-related and disuse osteoporoses using dried plum; examine the role of stem cell aging on age-related bone loss; and develop novel approaches to induce spine fusion and repair critical defects.

Dr. Cohen's research focuses on improving the health of Veterans with PTSD. She runs the Mind Your Heart Study, a longitudinal cohort of Veterans with and without PTSD established in 2008 that continues to follow to examine the longterm effects of PTSD, particularly on cardiovascular disease. She also conducts numerous studies using national VA data.

Dr. Borsari is investigating precisely how clinical interventions facilitate subsequent behavior change. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from Syracuse University (2003), interned at The Boston Consortium in Clinical Psychology, and was a postdoc at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University (2003-2005).

Brian Feeley, MD is the Chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service and is currently a Professor in Residence. He grew up in the Bay Area and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University and his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine before serving his residency in the UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He completed a sports medicine and shoulder fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where he also served as an assistant team physician to the New York Giants. He has been at UCSF since 2008, and currently serves at the team physician at St. Ignatius High School.