Ricardo Aguiar, M.D., Ph.D.

Lymphoma Biology

BCR signaling, transcription factor deregulation, and mitochondrial metabolism

Our group focus is on the identification and functional characterization of the genetic abnormalities of hematologic malignancies. We utilize in vitro and in vivo systems, in genome-wide or targeted studies, with the intent of translating these discoveries into clinical initiatives. The principal disease model in our lab is B-cell lymphoma. Active research lines stem from our recently published work and include: 1) The intersection between B-cell receptor signaling and phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) as actionable therapeutic targets in mature B cell malignancies; 2) Metabolic imbalance and epigenetic reprogramming in lymphomas; 3) Transcription factor IRF8 and lymphomagenesis.

Related diseases: B cell lymphomas, lymphoid leukemias

Techniques: Genetic modification of cancer cells in vitro using retrovirus and lentivirus, genetic engineering of mouse models, in vivo (mouse) manipulations, multiple signaling assays, genome-wide analysis (DNA, RNA, and protein) of primary human tumors 

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 1998 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Lymphoma Biology - Harvard Medical School
  • 1996 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Leukemia Biology - Centre for Adult Leukaemia, Hammersmith Hospital, University of London
  • 1994 - PhD - Leukemia Biology (Magna Cum Laude) - University of Sao Paulo, School of Medicine
  • 1992 - Clinical Fellowship - Hematology & Oncology - Hospital das Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo
  • 1990 - Residency - Internal Medicine - Hospital das Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo
  • 1988 - MD - Medicine - Federal University of Paraiba

  Appointments

  • 1998 - 2005 - Instructor in Medicine - Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
  • 2005 - 2010 - Assistant Professor in Medicine and Biochemistry - UT Health San Antonio
  • 2012 - 2019 - Associate Director South Texas MSTP (MD/PhD) Program - UT Health San Antonio
  • 2010 - 2015 - Associate Professor in Medicine and Biochemistry (tenured in 2012) - UT Health San Antonio
  • 2015 - Present - Professor in Medicine, Biochemistry and Immunology (tenured) - UT Health San Antonio
  • 2019 - Present - Vice Chief for Research - Division of Hematology/Med Oncology - UT Health San Antonio
  • 2015 - Present - UT Health San Antonio
  • 2019 - Present - Vice Chief for Research - Division of Hematology/Med Oncology - UT Health San Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • 2005 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSA
  • 2010 - Present, Junior Faculty Supervision, UTHSA
  • Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
  • 2/2011 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
  • 2005 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSA
  • 2010 - Present, Junior Faculty Supervision, UTHSA

• Research & Grants

  • BX001882-09 VA Merit Award (PI -Aguiar)

  04/2022 - 03/2026

  Title: Post-translation control of TET function in lymphoma

   

  • R01ES031522 - NIH/NIES (PI – Aguiar)

  04/2020 - 03/2025

  Title: Oxidative stress and RNA methylation

   

  • R01GM140456 - NIH/NIGMS (PI- Aguiar)

  01/2021 - 12/2024

  Title: Mitochondrial 2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenases modulate the cellular epitranscriptome

  Research profile

• Publications

  Journal Article

  Ortega M, Bhatnagar H, Lin AP, Wang L, Aster JC, Sill H, Aguiar RC. A microRNA-mediated regulatory loop modulates NOTCH and MYC oncogenic signals in B and T cell malignancies Leukemia 2014 Oct;. Cheah CY, Burbury K, Apperley JF, Huguet F, Pitini V, Gardembas M, Ross DM, Forrest D, Genet P, Rousselot P, Patton N, Smith G, Dunbar CE, Ito S, Aguiar RC, Odenike O, Gimelfarb A, Cross NC, Seymour JF. Patients with myeloid malignancies bearing PDGFRB fusion genes achieve durable long-term remissions with imatinib Blood 2014 Jun;123(23):3574-3577.