Evangeline M. Deer, PhD

Evangeline M. Deer, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department:
SOM-Pharmacology/Toxicology

Email:
edeer@umc.edu

Work Phone:
(601) 815-1447

Biography

Dr. Deer is an Associate Professor and the Scientific Director of Biobank Mississippi in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Dr. Deer serves in several leadership capacities. She currently serves on the American Physiological Society Finance Committee, as a fellow on the AJP AJP-Renal Early Career Editorial Fellowship Program, and recently began her term as a standing member of NIH Health, Behavior, and Context Study Section. At the institutional level, Dr. Deer serves as Chair of the UMC Biospecimen Access Committee, as the Chair of the Postdoctoral Advisory Committee, Co-Chair in the Mentoring Committee in the Group on Women in Medicine and Science, assists the Pharmacology clinical research core in consenting patients and collecting samples, is co-director of the Pharmacology Journal Club, and serves as a research mentor for trainees at various levels. She also serves as a reviewer for a number of journals including Hypertension, Hypertension in Pregnancy, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Cells, and Cell Cycle. Journal of Hypertension Dr. Deer has published over 20 peer reviewed manuscripts in leading journals for the field of hypertension research and cardiovascular physiology. In addition, she has provided service as a scientific judge in several local science fairs.


Dr. Deer has received several awards throughout her career including the Society for Reproductive Investigation’s President’s New Investigator Plenary Award, the American Physiological Society’s Cardiovascular Section Steven M. Horvath Professional Opportunity Award, the American Heart Association’s Council on Hypertension’s AFHRE Travel Grants for Support of Underrepresented Minorities Award, the American Physiological Society’s Caroline tum Suden/Frances Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award, a finalist in the American Physiological Society’s Renal Section Postdoctoral Excellence in Renal Research Award, and was recently a finalist in being selected as a finalist for the Juan Carlos Romero and Water & Electrolyte Homeostasis Section Postdoctoral Research Recognition Award.

Dr. Deer’s laboratory focuses on identifying immunological interactions in the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes and investigating the association between preeclampsia and an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. Specifically, Dr. Deer’s research focuses on the role of mitochondrial oxidative stress in gestational diabetes, which results in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and ultimately diabetes during pregnancy. Dr. Deer has worked on developing novel animal models designed to identify how chronic low-grade inflammation is a major causative factor of insulin resistance during pregnancy. Furthermore, Dr. Deer’s models examine how T-cells and B-cells autoimmune mechanisms are involved in abnormal immune regulation of insulin resistance to establish new therapeutic targets for the disease and reduce the gap present in racial disparities in reproductive health.

Education

University of Mississippi Medical Center, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Pharmacology/Toxicology2021
Jackson State University, PhD, Environmental Science/Toxicology2019
Mississippi College, MS, Biology2009
Tougaloo College, BS, Biology2008

Current Positions

Scientific Director of Biobank Mississippi, School of Graduate School in the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology / Toxicology07/2023 - Present
Assistant Professor, School of Graduate School in the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology / Toxicology07/2023 - Present
The University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi 39216

Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments

Instructor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Graduate School in the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology / Toxicology06/2021 - 06/2023

Sponsored Program Funding

Extramural, Endothelial PHD2 in Hypertensive Vascular Remodeli, National Institutes of Health09/2021 - Present
Extramural, Mayo COVID-19 Biobank at UMMC, National Institutes of Health07/2021 - Present
Extramural, Adducin, Actin, Cytoskeleton and Cognitive Impairment, National Institutes of Health04/2019 - Present
Extramural, Southern All of Us Network, National Institutes of Health08/2017 - Present

Presentations

Platform Presentations, Adoptive Transfer of Diabetic CD4+T Cells cause increased glucose, blood pressure and placental mitochondrial dysfunction in a novel rat model of diabetes during pregnancy, American Physiology Summit, Long Beach, California04/2023
Poster Presentation, AT1-AA Induced Hypertension During Pregnancy Decreases Maternal Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation Postpartum, American Heart Association Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, San Diego, CA09/2022
Poster Presentation, B Cells Induce Hypertension, AT1AA, And Complement Activation In Preeclampsia Or In Response To A Prior Covid-19 Infection During Pregnancy., American Heart Association Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, San Diego, CA09/2022
Platform Presentations, Gestational Diabetic CD4+T Cells cause increased glucose, blood pressure and placental mitochondrial dysfunction in a novel rat model of diabetes during pregnancy, American Heart Association Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, San Diego, California09/2022
Poster Presentation, IL17 administration in the Absence of T cells Results in Hypertension, NK cell Activation, and Reduced Pup Weight at Birth, but No Changes in Blood Pressure or Weight at Maturation of Offspring, Experimental Biology, Philadelphia, PA04/2022
Platform Presentations, The Role of B Cells in Mediating Hypertension in Preeclampsia or COVID‐19 Infection During Pregnancy, Experimental Biology, Philadelphia, PA04/2022
Platform Presentations, Maternal B Cell Depletion Reduces Blood Pressure and Improves Fetal Weights in Male Offspring of a Rat Model of Preeclampsia, Experimental Biology, Philadelphia, PA04/2022
Poster Presentation, Gestational Diabetic Cd4+ T Cells Cause Increased Glucose, Blood Pressure And Placental Mitochondrial Dysfunction In A Novel Rat Model Of Diabetes During Pregnancy, Experimental Biology, Philadelphia, PA04/2022
Platform Presentations, CD4+T Cells cause increased glucose, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hypertension in a Novel Pregnant Rodent Model of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental Biology, Philadelphia, PA04/2022
Platform Presentations, CD4+T Cells cause increased glucose, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hypertension in a Novel Pregnant Rodent Model of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Society for Reproductive Investigation, Denver, Colorado03/2022
Poster Presentation, CD4+T Cells cause mitochondrial dysfunction, an increase in glucose, and hypertension in a novel Rat Model of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, APS New Trends in Sex and Gender Medicine, Virtual10/2021
Poster Presentation, Progesterone induced blocking factor attenuates hypertension, placental and endothelial cell mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species in response to sFlt-1 during pregnancy, AHA Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Virtual09/2021
Platform Presentations, Maternal B Cell Depletion Lowers Blood Pressure And Improves Fetal Weights In Offspring In A Rat Model Of Preeclampsia, AHA Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Virtual09/2021
Platform Presentations, Inhibiting B Cell Activating Factor Normalizes The Hypertension And Cytolytic Natural Killer Cells Associated With Placental Ischemia, AHA Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Virtual09/2021
Platform Presentations, IL-17 Causes Hypertension, Reduced Fetal Weight And Natural Killer Cell Activation In The Absence Of T Cells. Hypertension, AHA Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Virtual09/2021
Platform Presentations, Cd4+t Cells Cause Hypertension, Increased Glucose, And Mitochondrial Dysfunction In A Novel Rodent Model Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, AHA Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Virtual09/2021
Poster Presentation, Progesterone induced blocking factor attenuates hypertension, placental and endothelial cell mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species in response to sFlt-1 during pregnancy, Society for Reproductive Organization, Virtual06/2021
Platform Presentations, Low Dose of IL-2 Normalizes Hypertension and Mitochondrial Function in Response to Placental Ischemia, Society for Reproductive Investigation, Virtual06/2021
Poster Presentation, IL-17 causes hypertension and multi-organ tissue dysfunction which is attenuated with blockade of agonistic autoantibodies to the angiotensin II type I (AT1-AA) receptor during pregnancy, Experimental Biology, Virtual04/2021
Platform Presentations, An Immunological Perspective on Preeclampsia, Conference for Black Physiologists, Virtual04/2021
Platform Presentations, AT1-AAs cause Vascular Endothelial Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress associated with Preeclampsia, Experimental Biology, Virtual04/2021
Poster Presentation, Preeclamptic placental CD4+ T cells cause hypertension, AT1-AA stimulation and cNK cells in pregnant nude-athymic rats, American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology02/2021
Poster Presentation, IL-17 stimulates B cells to secrete AT1-AA in hypertension and multi-organ tissue dysfunction during pregnancy, American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology2021
Platform Presentations, Inhibition Of T Cell Activation In Response To Placental Ischemia During Pregnancy Improves Hypertension And Activation Of Natural Killer Cells, American Heart Association Council on Hypertension, Virtual09/2020
Poster Presentation, Mitochondrial Dysfunction And Natural Killer Cell Activation Stimulated By Il-17 Signaling From Th17 Cells In Response To Placental Ischemia During Pregnancy, American Heart Association Council on Hypertension, Virtual09/2020
Poster Presentation, RUPP rat model CD4+ T Cells activate NK cells and cause mitochondrial oxidative stress and hypertension in normal pregnant rats, AHA Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Virtual09/2020
Poster Presentation, IL‐17 Signaling Stimulates Natural Killer Cell Activation and Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Response to TH17 Cells Stimulated in Response to Placental Ischemia During Pregnancy., Experimental Biology, Virtual04/2020
Platform Presentations, Progesterone induced blocking factor improves blood pressure, mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species in response to sFlt‐1 induced hypertension during pregnancy, Experimental Biology, Virtual04/2020
Platform Presentations, CD4+ T Cells from RUPP rat model activate NK cells and cause mitochondrial oxidative stress and hypertension in normal pregnant rats, Experimental Biology, Virtual04/2020
Platform Presentations, Progesterone induced blocking factor attenuates hypertension, placental and endothelial cell mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species in response to sFlt-1 during pregnancy, Society for Reproductive Investigation, Vancouver, Canada03/2020
Poster Presentation, NK cell-mediated mitochondrial oxidative stress and hypertension in response to CD4+ T cells from RUPP rats., American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Virtual2020
Poster Presentation, RUPP CD4+T Cells activate NK cells, cause mitochondrial oxidative stress, and hypertension in normal pregnant rats., University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Research Day, Jackson, MS10/2019
Poster Presentation, Leptin Signaling Defects in Offspring of Dams Having Received Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, Experimental Biology, Orlando, FL04/2019
Poster Presentation, Dysregulated Leptin Signaling in Post-Bariatric Rodent Offspring, University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Research Day, Jackson, MS10/2018
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Mechanisms of altered androgen processing following surgical weight loss, Cardiovascular-Renal Research Center, Jackson, Mississippi09/2018
Invited Symposia, Inhibition of Leptin Secretion by Vernonia amygdalina Extract, International Symposium on Recent Advancements in Environmental Health Research and Metal Ions in Biology and Medicine, Jackson, MS09/2017
Invited Symposia, Inhibition of Leptin Secretion in Adipocytes by Vernonia amygdalina Extract, CSET/LSMAP Research Symposium, Jackson, Mississippi02/2015

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

Appreciation Award, Tri Beta Sigma Epsilon2023
Water & Electrolyte Homeostasis Section Postdoctoral Research Recognition Award Finalist, American Physiological Society2023
Award for the Support of Underrepresented Minorities, American Heart Association Council on Hypertension2022
Postdoctoral Excellence in Renal Research Award Finalist, American Physiological Society2022
Steven M. Horvath Professional Opportunity Award, American Physiological Society2021
President’s New Investigator Plenary Award, Society for Reproductive Investigation2021
AFHRE Travel Grants for Support of Underrepresented Minorities, American Heart Association Council on Hypertension2020
Caroline tum Suden/Frances Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award, American Physiological Society2020
Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation2002

Professional Membership and Service

International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, Member2023 - Present
American Heart Association, Member, Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions2019 - Present
American Physiological Society, Member, Experimental Biology; American Physiology Summit-Judge for Barbara A. Horwitz and John M. Horowitz Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award2019 - Present
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member2011 - Present
Association of Southeastern Biologists, Member2011 - Present

Committee Service

American Physiological Society Finance Committee, Member2024 - Present
Biospecimen Access Committee, Chair2023 - Present
Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee, Member2023 - Present
Group on Women in Medicine and Science, Mentoring Committee Co-Chair2021 - Present
Advisory Committee for the Office of Postdoctoral Studies, Chair2019 - Present

Community Service

Discovery U, Volunteer2022 - Present
Michelle Obama Early College High School, Judge2021 - Present
MS IDeA Conference, Judge2018 - Present
Local and Regional High School Science Fair, Judge2012 - Present
Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer2012 - Present

Other Service

Renal Physiology Early Career Editorial Fellowship Program, Trainee07/2023 - Present
NIH: Health, Behavior, and Context Study Section, Standing Member2023 - Present
Hypertension in Pregnancy2022 - Present
Journal of Hypertension2022 - Present
Cell Cycle Journal2020 - Present
Cells Journal2020 - Present
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Journal2020 - Present

Teaching Experience

PH702, Graduate, Course, Course Director, Recent Advances in Pharmacology and ToxicologyAnnual 2022
Graduate, Course, Lecturer, MFM Research Tools in Molecular BiologySpring 2022
PH702, Graduate, Course, Co-director, Recent Advances in Pharmacology and ToxicologyAnnual 2021 - 2022

Directed Student Learning

Research Advisor, Advised: Macia Outlaw2023 - Present
Research Advisor, Advised: Keanna Lee2023 - Present
Research Advisor, Advised: LaBrenda Bell2022 - Present
Research Advisor, Advised: Thamar Scipio2022 - 2022
Supervised Research, Advised: Hawthorne Cleveland2022 - Present
Supervised Research, Advised: Nathan Campbell2019 - Present
Supervised Research, Advised: Jalisa Jones2019 - 2019
Supervised Research, Advised: Sarah Fitzgearld2019 - Present
Supervised Research, Advised: Owen Herrock2019 - 2023

Fellows supervised

MFM Fellowship Program, Training Faculty, 1 fellows supervised08/2023 - Present
MFM Fellowship Program, Research Advisor, 2 fellows supervised08/2022 - Present
MFM Fellowship Program, Training Faculty, 1 fellows supervised08/2021 - 05/2023
MFM Fellowship Program, Training Faculty, 1 fellows supervised08/2019 - 05/2022