NYIT researcher gets national research award

Maria Alicia Carrillo Sepulveda, Ph.D., B.S.N., associate professor of biomedical sciences at New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, has received the John F. Perkins Jr. Research Career Enhancement Award from the American Physiological Society.

The award allows early-career researchers to obtain special training or an established researcher to develop new skills or retrain in areas of developing interest.

This year, Sepulveda, whose research focuses on vascular (blood vessel) biology and health, is one of only four researchers in the nation to receive this prestigious honor.

Sepulveda joined New York Institute of Technology’s medical school in 2014, where her laboratory research ultimately aims to convert basic science discoveries into treatments that may one day prevent or halt the progression of vascular complications in diabetes. Her studies have examined the link between obesity and hypertension, how short-term exposure to the average American diet increases the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and other related topics.

In addition to her esteemed research accolades, Sepulveda is a valued mentor for the university’s medical students, three of whom have secured competitive research awards from the American Heart Association while working in her laboratory.

Sepulveda received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University State of Campinas, and her specialization in cardiology from the Heart Institute at the University of Sao Paulo.

After four years in clinical practice, she transitioned to a scientific career and received her Ph.D. from the University of Sao Paulo, where she investigated how thyroid hormones regulate vascular function. Sepulveda then obtained a total of five years of post-doctoral training in hypertension from Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa and in vascular physiology from the Medical College of Georgia, where she developed expertise in vascular physiology and pharmacology.

She resides in Mineola, NY.

tablished the Town’s Substance Misuse Advisory Council to help combat the scourge of the opioid epidemic.

The Substance Misuse Advisory Council currently includes Steve Chassman, executive director of LICADD, Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, director of Outreach Services at the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, director of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment at Northwell Health, and Drew Scott, former longtime News 12 anchor and current reporter for Newsday TV, who has dedicated his life to fighting addiction and raising awareness in the memory of his granddaughter Hallie who tragically passed in 2017 to an overdose of heroin laced with deadly fentanyl.

“The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) commends the leadership of North Hempstead Town Supervisor

Jen DeSena for addressing and responding the public health issue of fentanyl poisoning adversely impacting Long Island families at an alarming rate,” Steve Chassman, executive director of LICADD said. “It is imperative that we inform our Long Island communities of the tainted illicit drug supply leading to an increased rate of overdose and poisoning of too many substance users here on Long Island and across the country. We look forward to providing community awareness and education about the fentanyl crisis at this upcoming public forum.”

This free-to-attend educational community forum will include guest speakers from the Department of Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office. Registration is required as space is limited. To register, call 311 or (516) 869-6311.