Written by Jeanne Ishimwe, Ph.D.
I was born and lived in Rwanda for the first 17 years of my life before moving to the United States to pursue a college education. For most of my childhood, I suffered from chronic bronchitis but had limited access to proper medication. As a result, my family turned to food and herbal concoctions to manage my illness. I eventually outgrew the disease in my teenage years but have continued to be intrigued by the power of food as medicine. This fascination would later turn into a scientific endeavor in my undergraduate education as a chemistry major through subjects including analytical and medicinal chemistry. This interest led me to pursue a PhD in Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology, the beginning of my research pursuit in the cardiovascular disease space. My work there focused on understanding the cause and testing potential new treatment options for preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure that develops specifically in pregnant women. We know that many detrimental effects of cardiovascular disease can be mitigated by lifestyle changes including a healthy diet and exercise. My research interests and fascination with the therapeutic power of food finally collided when I learned about the microbiome. I began studying the interplay between the gut microbiome and dietary elements in health and cardiovascular disease.
I started my postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in January 2021 in Dr. Annet Kirabo’s laboratory. I am building on my doctoral work to understand the interaction between excess dietary salt and the gut microbiome in the genesis of hypertension. My current research is focused on combining metagenomics, metabolomics, and preclinical pharmacology to identify novel biomarkers and therapies for hypertension. I am investigating the role of secondary bile acids in human salt-sensitive hypertension and their signaling through the Farnesoid X receptor using pharmacological and genetic approaches in rodents. The salt sensitivity trait affects women more than men regardless of age, but the reasons remain unknown. I am concurrently investigating potential players in sexual dimorphism in the pathophysiology of salt-sensitive hypertension. I am part of a team of stellar and passionate scientists which has been incredible both for my productivity and morale. This institution has been an exceptional training environment for me in particular because of its collaborative nature, and the ability to participate in bed-to-bench side impactful science.
My science story does not begin with “I knew I wanted to be a scientist since I was a little girl” simply because growing up in Rwanda, I never knew it was a career option. I have had the pleasure of investigating exciting topics like the benefits of turmeric in hypertension, and the power of ketogenic interventions to treat hypertensive disorders. These always make great conversation starters. My favorite thus far is sharing that I study poop to learn about health and disease, except maybe at the dinner table. I am deeply grateful to my science mentors for their excellent guidance in identifying and pursuing scientific questions that are funded through my predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships by the American Heart Association. I have had career development opportunities beyond my wildest dreams and do not doubt that it was because of so many amazing mentors and colleagues who championed for me in and outside the laboratory. I am passionate about paying it forward through peer mentoring, sharing my passion for science with those with limited exposure, and advocating for the improvement of the academic training experience. Accordingly, I have enjoyed outreach activities exposing students to science and teaching them about potential career options in science especially those from underrepresented communities including the American Physiological Society’s Physiology Understanding Week. Here, I receive regular career development opportunities including getting to participate in the 2022 ASPIRE on the Road program. I am a member of the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association executive board and the symposium planning committee. I am also currently serving on the Trainee Advocacy Committee for the American Heart Association Council on Hypertension.
I spend my time outside of the laboratory mostly keeping up with family and friends across continents. I also enjoy hiking; traveling and seeing museums, art galleries, and botanical gardens; and exploring new cuisines.