Dr. White's primary teaching responsibility is directing the cardiovascular-renal-pulmonary course for second-year osteopathic medicine (DO) students. In addition to administrating the course, Dr. White also teaches cardiovascular physiology and some cardiovascular pharmacology as well. In the biomedical sciences program, Dr. White co-directs a graduate course—vascular control mechanisms—and chairs the curriculum committee. In addition to these cardiovascular-related courses, he also teaches basic reproductive endocrinology to second-year DO students, and cellular biophysics/neurophysiology to first-year DO students.
Dr. White's research centers upon applying cellular/molecular electrophysiological techniques to investigate cell excitability and signal transduction, especially in coronary arteries. His main focus has been on understanding how gonadal hormones (e.g., estrogen, testosterone) modulate potassium channel activity in coronary artery smooth muscle cells to produce vasodilation. He has supervised research to understand how modulation of potassium currents in astrocytes may protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
Regulation of coronary artery ion channels by adenosine.
P.I.: R.E. White National Heart Foundation/American Health Assistance Foundation
4-1-93 to 3-31-94, $15,000.
Female sex hormones prevent age-induced cardiovascular dysfunction.
P.I.: R.E. White American Federation For Aging Research
7-1-95 to 12-31-96, $40,000.
Mechanisms of estrogen-induced coronary vasodilation.
P.I.: R.E. White (50% effort) National Institutes of Health (HL54844)
12-1-96 to 11-30-01, $280,000.
The molecular basis of estrogen action on human coronary artery smooth muscle.
P.I. R.E. White (15% effort) American Heart Association (national)
7-1-99 to 6-30-02, $165,000
Molecular basis of cAMP-induced coronary vasorelaxation.
P.I.: R.E. White (25% effort) National Institutes of Health (HL64779)
04-01-00 to 03-30-05, $625,000.
PKC signaling in cAMP-induced pulmonary vasodilation
P.I.: S. Barman National Institutes of Health (NHLBI)
07-01-01 to 06-30-06, $875,000 R.E. White, Co-investigator (20% effort)
Role of icosanoids in renal function
P.I.: H. Capdevila/ J. Imig (PI) National Institutes of Health (NIDDK 2 PO1 DK38226-18)
07-01-97 to 06-30-09, $1,694,380 R.E. White, Co-Investigator (20% effort)
Estrogen dual effects on coronary arteries
P.I.: R.E. White (30% effort) National Institutes of Health (HL073890)
12-01-04 to 11-30-08, $875,000.
Estrogen dual effects on coronary arteries -- reentry supplement
P.I.: R.E. White and Mary P. Owen National Institutes of Health (HL073890)
03-01-06 to 11-30-08, $48,000
Nongenomic mechanisms of androgens in the vascular wall
P.I.: J.N. Stallone National Institutes of Health (HL080402)
04-01-06 to 03-31-10, $1,250,000 R.E. White, Co-Investigator (25% effort)
PKC Signaling in cAMP-induced pulmonary vasodilation
P.I.: S.A. Barman National Institutes of Health (HL68026)
07-01-07 to 03-31-11, $900,000 R.E. White, Co-Investigator (20% effort)
Protective activity of the lectin-like domain of TNF in permeability edema
P.I.: R. Lucas National Institutes of Health (HL094609)
08-01-10 to 07-31-14, $900,000
R.E. White, Co-Investigator (10% effort)