Dr. Rao is a Professor of Cellular and Molecular Biology and holds The Dr. and Mrs. James Vaughn Professorship in Biomedical Research. Dr. Rao was trained as a biochemist and life scientist at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. Dr. Rao underwent post-doctoral training in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego in the fields of hemostasis and thrombosis. Upon completion of the training, he became a faculty member in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, and was promoted to Associate Biochemist (equivalent to Associate Professor). Dr. Rao moved to the UT Tyler Health Science Center in 1993 and became a professor in 1996. Dr. Rao served in many leadership roles at the Health Science Center including as the Faculty Senate Chair. Dr. Rao’s research programs are continuously supported by grant funding from NIH, the American Heart Association, the American Society of Hematology, and/or the pharmaceutical industry. Many of his post-doctoral fellows received independent post-doctoral fellowship awards from American Heart Association or National Hemophilia Foundation. Dr. Rao acted as a reviewer for many national and international granting agencies including NIH, AHA, the Department of Veteran Affairs, The Wellcome Trust Fund, The Israel Science Foundation, The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, Belgium Research Council, and Royal Swedish Academy. He also served as Associate Editor of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. He was an Editorial Member for Haemostasis and Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and reviews manuscripts for numerous scientific journals. Dr. Rao published over 175 peer-reviewed articles and trained more than 30 Ph.D. or MD post-doctoral fellows and several PhD students registered at other universities. Rao’s laboratory has been involved for the past thirty years in performing cutting-edge research aimed at understanding the basic mechanisms involved in the regulation of blood clotting and the role of blood clotting proteins in inflammation and cancer.

Education & Training

University of California, San Diego
Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1982 - 1985

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
PhD, 1978 - 1981

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
MPhil, 1977 - 1978

Osmania University, Hyderabad, India
MS, 1975 - 1977

Courses Taught

BIOT 5222 - Advanced Metabolism
BIOT 5222L - Advanced Metabolism Lab
BIOT 5310 – Fundamental of Biomedical Research

Research Interest

Our laboratory has broad research interests in the fields of hemostasis and thrombosis, cell signaling, and protein trafficking. Specific ongoing research interests are:

  • Cellular dynamics that regulate procoagulant activity in cell surfaces/molecular mechanisms responsible for tissue factor encryption and decryption
  • Pathophysiological significance of factor VIIa interaction with endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR)
  • Cell signaling with specific emphasis on cell signaling initiated by clotting proteases and inflammatory mediators
  • Mechanisms by which TF and EPCR contribute or influence the pathogenesis of various diseases, including thrombosis, hemophilia, cancer, and inflammatory diseases

Publication Highlights

Alterations to Sphingomyelin Metabolism Affect Hemostasis and Thrombosis. Wang J, Keshava S, Das K, Kolesnick R, Jiang XC, Pendurthi UR, Rao LVM. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2023 Jan;43(1):64-78. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.122.318443.

The Gab2-MALT1 axis regulates thromboinflammation and deep vein thrombosis. Kondreddy V, Keshava S, Das K, Magisetty J, Rao LVM, Pendurthi UR. Blood. 2022 Sep 29;140(13):1549-1564. doi: 10.1182/blood.2022016424.

Factor VIIa suppresses inflammation and barrier disruption through the release of EEVs and transfer of microRNA 10a. Das K, Keshava S, Pendurthi UR, Rao LVM. Blood. 2022 Jan 6;139(1):118-133. doi: 10.1182/blood.2021012358.

Selective inhibition of activated protein C anticoagulant activity protects against hemophilic arthropathy in mice. Magisetty J, Kondreddy V, Keshava S, Das K, Esmon CT, Pendurthi UR, Rao LVM. Blood. 2022 May 5;139(18):2830-2841. doi: 10.1182/blood.2021013119.

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces the activation of tissue factor-mediated coagulation via activation of acid sphingomyelinase. Wang J, Pendurthi UR, Yi G, Rao LVM. Blood. 2021 Jul 29;138(4):344-349. doi: 10.1182/blood.2021010685.

Factor VIIa induces extracellular vesicles from the endothelium: a potential mechanism for its hemostatic effect. Das K, Keshava S, Ansari SA, Kondreddy V, Esmon CT, Griffin JH, Pendurthi UR, Rao LVM.Blood. 2021 Jun 17;137(24):3428-3442. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020008417.