Immunology  http://www.gbs.uab.edu  http://www.uab.edu/graduate  Back to Main

Faculty Detail    
Name JAMES F GEORGE
  
Campus Address THT 1052 Zip 0007
Phone  (205) 934-4261
E-mail  jgeorge@uab.edu
Other websites
     

Education
Undergraduate  Wittenberg University    1981  BA Biology and History 
Graduate  University of Cincinnati    1983  Master of Science -Biology 
Graduate  University of Alabama Birmingham    1991  PhD  


Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type Department Division Rank
Primary  Surgery - Cardiovascular/Thoracic  Surgery - Cardiovascular/Thoracic Professor
Secondary  Med - Cardiovascular Disease  Med - Cardiovascular Disease Assistant Professor
Secondary  Microbiology  Microbiology Professor
Center  Comp Arthritis, MSK, Bone & Autoimmunity Ctr  Comp Arthritis, MSK, Bone & Autoimmunity Ctr Professor
Center  Comprehensive Cardiovascular Ctr  Comprehensive Cardiovascular Ctr Professor
Center  GL Ctr for Craniofacial, Oral, & Dental Disorders  GL Ctr for Craniofacial, Oral, & Dental Disorders Professor
Center  Nephrology Research & Training Center  Nephrology Research & Training Center Professor
Center  UAB Immunology Institute  UAB Immunology Institute Professor

Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations
Cellular and Molecular Biology Program 
Immunology 
Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine 

Biographical Sketch 
Dr. James F. George is a Professor of Immunology for the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He is a molecular and cellular biologist who has worked in the field of heart failure and transplantation for more than 20 years. He is actively involved in researching the basic biology of heart failure and transplant rejection, the development of new drugs, and clinical outcomes afer cardiac surgery and transplantation. ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS: 2010 Director of Clinical and Basic Science Research, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery 2007 Professor of Surgery 1999 Associate Professor of Surgery 1991 Assistant Professor of Surgery and Microbiology Other Professional Acitivities: Board of Directors, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, 2010-pres; Program Committee, International Meeting on Heme Oxygenase 2009; International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT)– Awards committee 2000-Pres.; ISHLT Council on basic science and pathology 1993-Pres; ISHLT Chairman, Council on basic science and Pathology 2001-2008.; ISHLT Abstracts selection review committee 1994-Pres; ISHLT Co-chairman program committee on basic science and pathology 1995, 1996, 2000; American Society of Transplant Physicians - Scientific Studies Committee 1996-1999; NIH Study Section, Innovative grants on immune tolerance 2001; NIH Study section, Program projects on Immune tolerance and rejection 2003; NIH Ad-Hoc Member TTT Study section 2006; NIH Study Section, Tolerance Induction in Non-human primates 2007; Editorial Board J. Heart and Lung Transplantation 1995-1999; Associate Editor Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 1999-present Wittenberg University BA Biology Major History Minor 1981 University of Cincinnati Master of Science (Biology) 1983 University of Cincinnati Ph.D. (Biology) 1987 1987-1989 Post-doctoral training Laboratory of Max D. Cooper UAB 1989-1991 Post-doctoral training Laboratories of Max D. Cooper and Harry W. Schroeder UAB

Society Memberships
Organization Name Position Held Org Link
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation  Board of Directors  www.ISHLT.org 
 



Research/Clinical Interest
Title
Immune regulation of post-transplant vascular disease and allograft rejection
Description
Our studies are concentrated in transplantation immunobiology, particularly in relation to allograft vascular disease, immune regulation, and the role of heme oxygenase-1. As Director of the Transplantation Immunobiology Laboratory and the UAB Microsurgical Core Laboratory, Dr. George has pursued investigations in: The role of Heme oxygenase-1, in arterial thrombosis, and the development of post-transplant vascular disease, one of the largest limitations to long-term heart transplant survival. The mechanisms of clinical benefit from extracorporeal photopheresis, a clinical treatment involving the exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to ultraviolet irradiation. The development of unique rodent-based animal models in acute kidney injury, including ischemia reperfusion and unilateral ureteral obstruction, and the molecular mechanisms of immunological tolerance. Dr. George also has a substantial interest in clinical outcomes research as it relates to transplantation and heart failure. As Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery Research, he oversees all clinical research efforts within the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Department of Surgery. Clinical research efforts in collaboration with heart failure physicians are concentrated on time-related analyses of outcomes with respect to patient demographic variables, clinical care, and post-treatment morbid events in patients undergoing heart failure, heart and lung transplantation, and those implanted with ventricular assist devices.

Selected Publications 
Publication PUBMEDID
Hull TD, Agarwal A, George JF. The mononuclear phagocyte system in homeostasis and disease: a role for heme oxygenase-1. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2014 Apr 10;20(11):1770-88. doi: 10.1089/ars.2013.5673. Epub 2014 Mar 3  PMID: 24147608 
Lara DA, Olive MK, George JF, Brown RN, Carlo WF, Colvin EV, Steenwyck BL,Pearce FB. Systemic effects of intracoronary nitroglycerin during coronaryangiography in children after heart transplantation. Tex Heart Inst J. 2014
Feb;41(1):21-5. doi: 10.14503/THIJ-12-2704. PubMed PMID: 24512395;PMCID: 3967485 		 PMCID: PMC3967485 
Higgins RS, Brown RN, Chang PP, Starling RC, Ewald GA, Tallaj JA, Kirklin JK, George JF. A multi-institutional study of malignancies after heart transplantation and a comparison with the general United States population. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2014 May;33(5):478-85. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2014.01.862.
Epub 2014 Jan 28.  		 PMID: 24630406 
Carlo WF, Pearce FB, George JF, Tallaj JA, McGiffin DC, Marques MB, Adamski J, Kirklin JK. Single-center experience with extracorporeal photopheresis in pediatric heart transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2014 Jun;33(6):624-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2014.01.863. Epub 2014 Jan 29.  		 PMID: 24661684 
Mazimba S, Tallaj JA, George JF, Kirklin JK, Brown RN, Pamboukian SV. Infection and rejection risk after cardiac transplantation with induction vs. no induction: a multi-institutional study. Clin Transplant. 2014 Sep;28(9):946-52.
doi: 10.1111/ctr.12395. Epub 2014 Jul 25.  		 PMID: 24930563 
 

Keywords
Transplantation, Heme oxygenase, Stress, Vascular disease, Heart disease, Nephrology