Fruzsina K. Johnson, M.D.

(Integrative cardiovascular physiology with special emphasis on microcirculation)

Assistant Professor
Doctorate of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest Hungary

Fruzsina Johnson is an Assistant Professor in Tulane's Department of Physiology and an expert in microvascular biology. Hungarian born, Dr. Johnson started Medical School at the historic Semmelweis University in 1991 and began her research carrear with their Department of Physiology, under the supervision of Professors Laci Ligeti and the Chair, Emil Monos. During her medical training, Dr. Johnson participated in a two year Research Associate Externship under the auspices of Alberto Nasjletti at New York Medical College's Department of Pharmacology. Following the completion of her MD, Dr. Johnson accepted a Postdoctoral Position with Dr. Gabriel Navar, Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Dr. Johnson's major research interests include cardiovascular function, microcirculation and vascular pathophysiology, mechanisms of hypertension, and biological roles for porphyrin and gaseous messengers. Her early work demonstrated the importance of endogenously-formed carbon monoxide as a messenger within the vasculature. In subsequent studies, Dr. Johnson has provided compelling evidence that endogenously-formed carbon monoxide not only promotes relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, but can promote vasoconstriction by interfering with the vasodilatory actions of the nitric oxide system. Her research has profound implications as it suggests that endogeously-formed carbon monoxide may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and promote vasospasticity in certain hypertensive models and pathological conditions.

Dr. Johnson is one of the five Junior Faculty Investigators on the major interdipartmental Tulane Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Hypertension and Renal Biology grant from the National Center for Research Resources (NIH). She is a former recipient of an American Heart Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded though the Regional American Heart-Southeast Affiliate, and has recieved one year of equipment/supplies support from Solvay Pharmaceuticals Hypertension Yearly Grants Award Program. Fruzsina Johnson is also a recipient of the Microcirculatory Society's distinguished August Krogh Award. In addition, she has received a Carolyn Tum Suden/Francis A. Hellebrant Professional Opportunity Award from the American Physiological
Society and the Tulane's Dean of the School of Medicine Award. Dr. Johnson is a member of the American Physiological Society and is active in the Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section, the Cardiovascular Section and the Renal Section. She is also a member of both the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research and the Microcirculatory Society.