As background, my earlier training was as a post-doctoral fellow and Assistant Professor (non T-T) in the Department of Ob/Gyn (1994-2004) and Assistant Professor (T-T) in the Division of Gastroenterology (2004-2008) at UTMB in Galveston, TX. When I arrived in Nashville (2008), my appointment was as an Associate Professor (T-T) in the Department of Ob/Gyn at Meharry; I was also a member of the center for women’s health research (CWHR). In 2012, I was given an appointment in the School of Dentistry and the title of Chair, Oral Biology and Research (70% time/effort). Since then, I organized a SOD course on “Introduction to Clinical Research” and continue to foster collaborative faculty and student research projects. Recently, in Fall 2013 we have introduced “Biomedical Integration Seminar Course” to Freshman Dental Students. This course will allow the students not only to learn how to integrate basic sciences into their dental clinical approach and patient care but also will help them to understand on how poor oral health can cause systemic diseases. For the past several years, I have been providing research training to post-doctoral fellows, research technicians, and junior faculty, and residents, medical and dental students.
Dr. Gangula’s research efforts and published work over the years have focused on understanding the role and regulation of nitric oxide, vascular neuropeptides by sex steroid hormones as well as vitamin D in regulating gut motility and vascular functions in both diabetes mellitus and hypertension rodent(s) models as well as in clinical setting. Dr. Gangula have several years of research experience in the field of cardiovascular biology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, fetal programming and female hormone research as evidenced by number of publications (review in PubMed, author name: Gangula P). Recently, Dr. Gangula established research in the area of oral pathogens and its impact on systemic health (cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function). Dr. Gangula was specifically recruited in the division of gastroenterology when he was in UTMB, Galveston, Texas (2004-2008) to investigate the gender bias in gastroparesis and examine the role of female sex steroid hormones, estradiol-17ß (E2) and progesterone (P4) on gut motility functions in both health and disease state.
As an Assistant Professor (Non-Tenure-Track; 2000-2004) in UTMB, Galveston, TX, Dr. Gangula served as an active collaborator (co-investigator) for two independent RO1 grants with the collaboration of two separate investigators in the field of endocrinology/physiology. During the past few years, he has been working in the field of gastrointestinal motility disorders associated with diabetic & idiopathic gastroparesis [(delayed gastric emptying) which is a disorder that predominantly affects women)] and IBD. As a primary and corresponding author, he has published several articles in the field of “fetal programming, hypertension and gastroparesis”. Also, As a PI, Dr. Gangula had a grant support from NIIDDK (R21) and Diabetic Research Training Center (DRTC) pilot grant (NIDDK) to investigate the role of oxidative stress and nitric oxide in diabetic gastroparesis. He is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American Neurogastroenterology & Motility Society (ANMS) and the Society for Gynecological Investigations (SG1). Dr. Gangula has trained several post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, technicians, medical and dental students since 2001. He is a member of editorial board for several peer reviewed journals. In addition, he has been serving as a reviewer for several journals including but not limited to American Journal of Physiology and Neurogastroenterology and Motility.