![\"\"](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Saha.jpg\")
<\/a>Saha<\/p><\/div>\n
Saha, a research assistant professor, and Yang, an assistant professor, were previously postdoctoral fellows in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. Saha was mentored by Dr. Matam Vijay-Kumar, while Yang was mentored by Joe under the department\u2019s pioneering postdoctoral to faculty transition fellowship.<\/p>\n
In her inflammatory bowel disease research, Saha is focused on the paradoxical problem of iron deficiency in patients with the condition. Iron is crucial for the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, but inflammatory bowel disease patients frequently have low iron levels. While oral supplements can replenish the body\u2019s supply of iron, they also can worsen gastrointestinal issues.<\/p>\n
Saha is investigating why iron supplements cause those side effects and attempting to identify ways to prevent them while still providing patients with the proper amount of the vital mineral.<\/p>\n
With the Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Foundation funding support, she is investigating an immune protein complex called NLPR3 and a family of gut bacteria called Enterobacteriaceae as potential causes for and therapeutic targets against iron-induced inflammation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI envision that this research would, for the first time, demonstrate novel therapeutics that can be utilized to limit or alleviate side effects of oral iron when treating iron deficiency anemia in IBD patients,\u201d Saha said.<\/p>\n
In her American Heart Association project, Saha is studying the role of neutrophils \u2014 a type of white blood cell \u2014 and neutrophil extracellular traps in high blood pressure, with the goal of finding future therapy targets to treat hypertension<\/p>\n