Dr. Ivo Torres Filho
 |
Contact InformationDr. Ivo Torres Filho Research Associate Professor Department of Physiology and Biophysics Virginia Commonwealth University P.O. Box 980551 Richmond, Virginia 23298-0551 Tel: 804- 828-2066 Fax: 804-828-6413 email: itorres@mcvh-vcu.edu |
Ivo Torres Filho received his MD in 1981 from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He received his M.Sc. and his Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics in 1984 and 1988, respectively, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He received postdoctoral training in the laboratories of Drs. Karl Arfors and Marcos Intaglietta at Pharmacia Experimental Medicine and University of California, San Diego, respectively. Dr. Torres Filho joined the faculty at the State University of Rio de Janeiro at 1982. He joined the VCU faculty in 2002.
Research
Our research helps to understand factors that affect the distribution of oxygen and blood flow in the microcirculation in health and disease by applying novel techniques and methods. Experimental and mathematical strategies are used to identify the mechanisms behind certain cardiovascular diseases and their treatment. We also aim to develop new tools for diagnosis and interventions against these diseases.
The lab employs phosphorescence and Raman microspectroscopy techniques to determine oxygen tension and hemoglobin oxygen saturation levels in microvessels and interstitial spaces. In vitro approaches, using animal as well as human blood, generate well controlled data as background for models that can be tested in vivo. Fluorescence microscopy is used to study leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in vivo and to evaluate these events during disturbed states. A key component of our approach is to jointly study systemic and local oxygen delivery by monitoring cardiac output and blood oxygen content, in addition to microvascular variables. Our focus is on translational physiology and the questions are related to treatment of ischemia, hemorrhagic shock and sickle cell anemia as well as oxygenation and blood flow regulation at tissue level. The experiments may include acute embolism, hemorrhage and hemodilution techniques including testing of stored blood and blood substitutes (oxygen therapeutics) such as hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and perfluorocarbons.
Teaching
I have a strong interest and experience in teaching biomedical students. In Brazil, I was responsible for teaching the cardiovascular physiology module for over 15 years. At VCU, I have been in charge of modules given to the VCU Honors Program since 2005 and I have been participating in the M-I Physiology Laboratories since 2007.
Selected Publications
Original Work
Torres Filho, I.P., Leunig, M., Yuan, F., Intaglietta, M. and Jain, R. - Non-invasive measurement of microvascular and interstitial pO2 profiles in a human tumor in SCID mice. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91(6):2081-2085, 1994. PubMed
Torres, LN, Torres Filho, I.P., Barbee, R.W., Tiba, M.H., Ward, K.R. and Pittman, R.N. - Systemic responses to prolonged hemorrhagic hypotension. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 286(5):H1811-H1820, 2004. PubMed
Torres Filho, I.P., Spiess, B.D., Barbee, R.W., Ward, K.R. and Pittman, R.N. – Experimental analysis of critical oxygen delivery. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 288(3):H1071-H1079, 2005. PubMed
Torres Filho, IP, Terner, J, Pittman, RN, Somera, LG and Ward, KR – Hemoglobin oxygen saturation measurements using resonance Raman intravital microscopy. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 289(1):H488-H495, 2005. PubMed
Ward, K.R., Barbee, R.W., Reynolds, P.S., Torres Filho, I.P., Tiba, M.H., Torres, L.N., Pittman, R.N. and Terner, J. – Oxygenation monitoring of tissue vasculature by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Analytical Chemistry 79(4):1514-1518, 2007.
Torres, L.N., Pittman, R.N. and Torres Filho, I.P. – Blood flow and oxygenation during hemorrhagic hypotension. Microvascular Research 75(2):217-226, 2008.