Christopher M. Hearon, Jr., Ph.D.

Christopher M. Hearon, Jr., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Applied Clinical Research,
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Hearon is an Assistant Instructor in the Department of Applied Clinical Research and the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center where he completed a postdoctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Benjamin Levine M.D. He was the recipient of a National Research Service Award (NRSA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH, 2017-2020), and in 2020 received a Pathway to Independence Award (NIH; K99/R00) to investigate the mechanisms of vascular and autonomic dysfunction in obese and hypertensive patients. Other research interests include the regulation of oxygen transport and utilization in environmental extremes (high altitude, simulated space flight) and clinical conditions (heart failure).

Education

  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX – Postdoctoral Fellowship, Internal Medicine - 2019
  • Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO -  Ph.D., Human Bioenergetics - 2016
  • University of Colorado, Boulder, CO - M.S., Integrative Physiology - 2012
  • Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX - B.S., Health and Exercise Sport Science - 2010

Contact Info:

Phone: 214-345-4624
Email: ChristopherHearon@texashealth.org

Highlighted Publications
  • Endothelium-dependent vasodilatory signalling modulates α1 -adrenergic vasoconstriction in contracting skeletal muscle of humans

    Hearon CM Jr., Kirby BS, Crecelius AR, Luckasen GJ, Larson DG, Dinenno FA. Endothelium-dependent vasodilatory signalling modulates α1 -adrenergic vasoconstriction in contracting skeletal muscle of humans. Journal of Physiology 2016; PMID: 27561916

    • Selected as Editor’s Choice December 15, 2016 issue
    • Highlighted in a Perspectives Article by Segal SS; PMID: 27976390
    • Featured in a Journal Club Article; PMID: 28025832
  • ATP maintains the ability to blunt α1-adrenergic vasoconstriction during combined blockade of nitric oxide
    Hearon CM Jr., Richards JC, Luckasen GJ, Larson DG, Joyner MJ, Dinenno FA. ATP maintains the ability to blunt α1-adrenergic vasoconstriction during combined blockade of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, Na+/K+-ATPase, and KIR channels. Journal of Physiology 2017; PMID: 28590059
        *Highlighted in an Invited Commentary; Channels, PMID: 28796561
        *Featured in a Journal Club Article PMID: 29359807
  • Augmentation of endothelium-dependent vasodilatory signaling improves functional sympatholysis in contracting muscle of older adults

    Hearon CM Jr., Racine ML, Richards JC, Luckasen GJ, Larson DG, Dinenno FA. Augmentation of endothelium-dependent vasodilatory signaling improves functional sympatholysis in contracting muscle of older adults. Journal of Physiology. 2020; PMID: 32306393

    • Highlighted in a Journal Club Article; PMID: 32530043
    • Highlighted in a Journal Club Article; PMID: 32721034
  • Global Reach 2018: Heightened α-adrenergic signaling impairs endothelial function during chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia

    Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Lawley JS, Hansen AB, Hofstaetter F, Rainer S, Moralez G, Gasho C, Vizcardo G, Bermudez D, Villafuerte F, Hearon CM Jr. Global Reach 2018: Heightened α-adrenergic signaling impairs endothelial function during chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. Circulation Research. 2020; PMID: 32268833

    • Highlighted in an Editorial by Swenson ER; PMID: 32614721
  • Regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise in ageing humans

    Hearon CM Jr., Dinenno FA. Regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise in ageing humans. Journal of Physiology 2016; PMID: 26332887

  • Sympatholytic effect of ATP is independent of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, Na+/K+-ATPase, and KIR channels in humans

    Hearon CM Jr., Richards JC, Luckasen GJ, Larson DG, Joyner MJ, Dinenno FA. Sympatholytic effect of ATP is independent of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, Na+/K+-ATPase, and KIR channels in humans. Journal of Physiology 2017; PMID: 28590059

    • Highlighted in an Invited Commentary; Channels, PMID: 28796561
    • Featured in a Journal Club Article PMID: 29359807
  • Escape, Lysis, and Feedback: endothelial modulation of sympathetic vasoconstriction

    Hearon CM Jr., Dinenno FA. Escape, Lysis, and Feedback: endothelial modulation of sympathetic vasoconstriction. Curr Opinion in Pharmacol. 2019; PMID: 31170683.

  • Amplification of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in contracting human skeletal muscle: role of KIR channels

    Hearon CM Jr., Richards JC, Racine ML, Luckasen GJ, Larson DG, Dinenno FA. Amplification of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in contracting human skeletal muscle: role of KIR channels. Journal of Physiology 2018; PMID 30506579

    • Highlighted in a Perspectives Article by Welsh DG; PMID: 30615195
  • KIR channels mediate vasodilation but not sympatholysis

    Hearon CM Jr., Dinenno FA. KIR channels mediate vasodilation but not sympatholysis. Channels 2017; PMID: 28796561

  • Impaired oxygen uptake kinetics related to reduced peripheral oxygen extraction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

    Hearon CM Jr., Sarma S, Dias KA, Hieda M, Levine BD. Impaired oxygen uptake kinetics related to reduced peripheral oxygen extraction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Heart. 2019; PMID: 31208971

    • Highlighted in an Editorial by Borlaug BA; PMID: 31278143
  • Mechanisms of sympathetic restraint in human skeletal muscle during exercise: role of α-adrenergic and non-adrenergic mechanisms

    Hansen AB, Moralez G, Romero SA, Gasho C, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Hofstätter F, Rainer SL, Lawley JS, Hearon CM Jr. Mechanisms of sympathetic restraint in human skeletal muscle during exercise: role of α-adrenergic and non-adrenergic mechanisms. American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 2020; PMID: 32502375

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