Aliza Bochner

Pronouns: she/her

Current Research Project: My research lab investigates translational cardiovascular
microbiology, with a focus on the interplay between obesity and heart disease. Cardiomyocytes
secrete metabolic signaling factors that influence systemic organ function, particularly under
cardiometabolic stress. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), a key regulator of beta-
adrenergic receptors in the heart, is upregulated during stress, but its role in heart–fat
communication remains unclear. Our findings suggest that cardiac GRK2 plays a sex-specific
role in regulating heart–fat crosstalk during heart failure and may modulate white adipose
tissue through dysregulated adrenergic signaling. These mechanisms contribute to lipid
metabolism dysfunction and the development of obesity, highlighting GRK2 as a potential
therapeutic target in cardiometabolic disease.

How she got involved with research: When I arrived at Duke, I knew that I wanted research to
be a meaningful part of my undergraduate education. During the fall of my sophomore year, I
applied through MUSER and was accepted into my current cardiovascular lab. Since then, I have
remained consistently involved in research, taking on new responsibilities and pursuing my own
project. This work has not only defined my academic interests but also shaped how I approach
problem-solving and discovery.