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Samantha Yeligar MS, PhD

  • Department of Medicine
    Associate Professor
  • Atlanta VA Medical Center (VHA)
    1670 Clairmont Rd. 12C 104
Head shot of Samantha Yeligar

Overview

Dr. Yeligar completed her BS in Biochemistry with a Biology emphasis at the University of California-Riverside. She completed her MS and PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern California. Dr. Yeligars MS thesis focused on identifying the biochemical pathways affected by the anticancer agents motexafin gadolinium and sapphyrin in Ramos B-cell lymphoma and leukemic cells through gene expression profiling. Her PhD dissertation focused on the ethanol-HIF-1 axis in inflammatory gene expression in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells during chronic alcohol ingestion. Dr. Yeligar completed her postdoctoral training in Emory Universitys Alcohol and Lung Biology Center, where she investigated the role of NADPH oxidases and TGF in ethanol-induced oxidative stress and alveolar macrophage dysfunction, leading to alcoholics increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Dr. Yeligar received an F32 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to study the effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)g ligands on alcohol-induced alveolar macrophage dysfunction. Her F32 served as a natural extension to an American Heart Association National Scientist Development Grant and later to a NIAAA K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award to study the effect of PPARg ligands on alcohol-induced alveolar macrophage oxidative stress and phagocytic dysfunction by modulating microRNA expression. Dr. Yeligar's recent grants have focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in mitochondrial derangements in the alveolar macrophage, leading to impaired immune response and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. The novel treatment strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of chronic alcohol ingestion on alveolar macrophage function that have been studied by Dr. Yeligar have included S-adenosylmethionine, the critical antioxidant glutathione, and PPARg ligands rosiglitazone and pioglitazone.

Dr. Yeligar was promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Yeligar has ongoing collaborations with Dr. Ashish Mehta, Dr. Bashar Staitieh, and Dr. Sara Auld to translate her studies into human therapeutic strategies in improving lung immunity in people with a history of alcohol use disorders (Dr. Mehta) and people with HIV positive status (Drs. Staitieh and Auld).

Dr. Yeligars research focus is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms contributing to alveolar macrophage oxidative stress and phagocytic dysfunction in various pathologies and to examine novel therapeutic strategies that can be translated into clinical studies to improve lung immunity.

Academic Appointment

  • Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
  • Full Faculty Member of Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University Laney Graduate School, Emory University
  • Associate, Department of Medicine, Emory University

Education

Degrees

  • PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from University of Southern California
  • MS, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from University of Southern California
  • BS, Biochemistry with Biology emphasis from University of California, Riverside

Research

Publications

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