Lab: https://www.med.uvm.edu/neuro/vizzard_lab
1992-1995: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
1988-1992: Ph.D., Physiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
1984-1988: B.A., Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
I am the Vice Chair of Education and Research in the Department of Neurological Sciences where I oversee the many educational endeavors to diverse learners (undergraduate, graduate, and medical students & residents) and the diverse research (clinical, basic science and translational) mission of the department. I am also the course director and a lecturer for Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Biomedical Research (NSCI 327). This course arises from a growing public concern that many students, postdoctoral fellows, and even faculty, arrive in the laboratory not fully informed about the norms of science, the ethical requirements of research, or the policies and regulations that govern research. I also participate in a scientific writing workshop for graduate students in the Neuroscience Graduate Program.
2012-Present: Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
2005-2012: Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
The Vizzard laboratory research interests concern the neural control, organization, electrical and neurochemical properties of urinary bladder and how these properties are altered following neural injury, disease or during early postnatal development. Current rodent models of bladder dysfunction include: spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, acute and chronic bladder inflammation, bladder pain syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and partial bladder outlet obstruction. The Vizzard laboratory defines the changes that occur with injury/disease or postnatal maturation and then determines what factors control and regulate these plastic changes. We aim to define interventional strategies that improve bladder function in the face of neural injury or disease. Within the Vizzard lab, we emphasize the contribution of neuropeptides and growth factors to voiding dysfunction as well as an emerging interest in the role of TRP channels. A more recent project is a collaboration between colleagues in Neurological Sciences, Psychology and Chemistry at UVM that focuses on the role(s) of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in stress-induced urinary bladder dysfunction.
The Vizzard laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach to address the above questions. Some of these techniques and approaches include: conventional and transneuronal tracing using neurotropic viruses (eg., pseudorabies virus and herpes simplex virus-type to map bladder reflex circuitry in health and disease; immunostaining for neuroactive compounds to determine if the balance of neuroactive compounds is altered to push the system into an overactive or underactive mode of operation; biochemical and molecular approaches to determine what factors may be altered centrally (spinal cord) or peripherally (dorsal root ganglia, pelvic ganglia, urinary bladder); whole-cell patch clamp and intracellular recording from dorsal root or pelvic ganglion cells to determine if cells are more or less excitable in health or disease; whole animal bladder function testing to evaluate the effects of interventional strategies on bladder function in health and disease; in vitro analyses of urinary bladder strips to assess spontaneous and stimulation evoked changes in contractility; calcium imaging of urothelial cells in urothelium strips; ex vivo assays to examine release of ATP from the urothelium with distention.
2024: Colleen A. and Gregory L. Holmes Green and Gold Professor in Neurological Sciences Research
2012: 2012-13 University Scholar, University of Vermont
2003, 2004, 2009: UVM Model Laboratory Award
2000: Young Investigator Award, Society for Basic Urologic Research/Merck
1997: College of Medicine Faculty Development Award, University of Vermont College of Medicine
1993-1995: National Research Service Award, Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
1992-1993: NIMH Training Grant, Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
1991: Sigma Xi Student Research Prize, Thomas Jefferson University
1989-1992: National Research Service Award, Predoctoral Fellowship, Thomas Jefferson University
1988-1989: Foerderer Fellowship, Thomas Jefferson University
1988: Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Temple University
1984-1988: Full Academic Scholarship, Temple University
2021-Present: Vice Chair for Research, Department of Neurological Sciences
2014-Present: Vice Chair for Education, Department of Neurological Sciences
2020-2022: Chair, IACUC
2010-Present: Associate Editor, Frontiers in Autonomic Neuroscience
2010-Present: Grant Reviewer, Department of Defense
2010-Present: Review Editor, Review Editorial Board of Frontiers in Pharmacotherapy of Urogenital Disorders
2010-Present: Editorial Board, American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative
2010-Present: UVM Faculty Mentoring Program, Faculty Mentor
2009-Present: Ad Hoc Grant Reviewer, NIDDK UKGD Study Section
2009-Present: Faculty Mentor, Women's Reproductive Health Research (WRH) (K12) Program in Dept. of Ob/Gyn
2008-Present: Editorial Board, American Journal of Physiology, Renal Physiology and Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
2008-Present: Chair, UVM IACUC Policy and Procedures Subcommittee
Current:
5R01DK137815 (Vizzard/May/Hammack/Brewer) “PACAP/PAC1 receptor signaling in micturition neurocircuits: effects of stress and injury/inflammation”. Role: PI, Multi PI award.
R01DK120108 (Yoon/Vizzard) NIH/NIDDK. "Role of proNGF-p75 signaling in the bladder control after spinal cord injury”. Role: PI, Subaward PI.
5 R01 DK 124580 (Vizzard) NIH/NIDDK. "Cystitis-induced bladder dysfunction and pain". Role: PI.
Past:
2015-2019: 5R01 DK060481-10 NIH/NIDDK. "Developmental Plasticity of Micturition Reflex Pathways". Role: PI.
2013-2018: 5R01 DK051369-18 NIH/NIDDK. "Cystitis-induced plasticity of micturition reflexes". Role: PI.
2011-2015: 7KO8DK082759 NIH/NIDDK. Transcriptional mechanisms of lower urinary tract development. PI: Mingin, G. Role: Co-mentor.
2010-2015: RO1AT 004400 NIH/National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Connective tissue and nervous system mechanisms of CAM therapies for low back pain. PI: Langevin, H. Role: Co-investigator
Stress-induced symptom exacerbation: Stress increases voiding frequency, somatic sensitivity, and urinary bladder NGF and BDNF expression in mice with subthreshold cyclophosphamide (CYP). Girard BM, Campbell SE, Vizzard MA. Front Urol. 2023;3:1079790. doi: 10.3389/fruro.2023.1079790. Epub 2023 Mar 22. PMID: 37811396.
Partners in Pain: New Insights into The Role of CGRP Signaling in Cross-Organ Sensitization. Coates MD, Vizzard MA. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2023 Oct;387(1):1-3. doi: 10.1124/jpet.123.001770. PMID: 37714688.
Changes in nerve growth factor signaling in female mice with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis. Hsiang HW, Girard BM, Vizzard MA. Front Urol. 2023;2:1089220. doi: 10.3389/fruro.2022.1089220. Epub 2023 Jan 26. PMID: 37701183.
Repeated variate stress increased voiding frequency and altered TrpV1 and TrpV4 transcript expression in lower urinary tract (LUT) pathways in female mice.Sidwell AB, McClintock C, Beca KI, Campbell SE, Girard BM, Vizzard MA. Front Urol. 2023;2:1086179. doi: 10.3389/fruro.2022.1086179. Epub 2023 Jan 25. PMID: 37692906.
Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) in urinary bladder structure and function. Perkins ME, Vizzard MA. Curr Top Membr. 2022;89:95-138. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctm.2022.06.002. Epub 2022 Jul 18. PMID: 36210154. Review.
Imatinib Mesylate Reduces Voiding Frequency in Female Mice With Acute Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cystitis. Perkins ME, Girard BM, Campbell SE, Vizzard MA. Front Syst Neurosci. 2022 May 13;16:867875. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.867875. eCollection 2022. PMID: 35645740.
Imatinib Mesylate Reduces Neurotrophic Factors and pERK and pAKT Expression in Urinary Bladder of Female Mice With Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cystitis. Perkins M, Girard BM, Campbell SE, Hennig GW, Vizzard MA. Front Syst Neurosci. 2022 Apr 22;16:884260. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.884260. eCollection 2022. PMID: 35528149.
Effects of pharmacological neurotrophin receptor inhibition on bladder function in female mice with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis. Hsiang HW, Girard BM, Ratkovits L, Campbell SE, Vizzard MA. Front Urol. 2022;2:1037511. doi: 10.3389/fruro.2022.1037511. Epub 2022 Nov 8. PMID: 37701182.
The Role of PIEZO1 in Urinary Bladder Function and Dysfunction in a Rodent Model of Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cystitis. Beca KIK, Girard BM, Heppner TJ, Hennig GW, Herrera GM, Nelson MT, Vizzard MA. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2021 Oct 12;2:748385. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2021.748385. eCollection 2021. PMID: 35295484.
Intrabladder PAC1 Receptor Antagonist, PACAP(6-38), Reduces Urinary Bladder Frequency and Pelvic Sensitivity in Mice Exposed to Repeated Variate Stress (RVS). Girard BM, Campbell SE, Beca KI, Perkins M, Hsiang H, May V, Vizzard MA. J Mol Neurosci. 2021 Aug;71(8):1575-1588. doi: 10.1007/s12031-020-01649-x. Epub 2020 Jul 1. PMID: 32613552
TRPV4 blockade reduces voiding frequency, ATP release, and pelvic sensitivity in mice with chronic urothelial overexpression of NGF. Girard BM, Campbell SE, Perkins M, Hsiang H, Tooke K, Drescher C, Hennig GW, Heppner TJ, Nelson MT, Vizzard MA. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2019 Dec 1;317(6):F1695-F1706. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00147.2019. Epub 2019 Oct 21. PMID: 31630542
Expression and Function of Chemokines CXCL9-11 in Micturition Pathways in Cyclophosphamide (CYP)-Induced Cystitis and Somatic Sensitivity in Mice. Guo M, Chang P, Hauke E, Girard BM, Tooke K, Ojala J, Malley SM, Hsiang H, Vizzard MA. Front Syst Neurosci. 2018 Apr 6;12:9.
Role of proNGF/p75 signaling in bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury. Ryu JC, Tooke K, Malley SE, Soulas A, Weiss T, Ganesh N, Saidi N, Daugherty S, Saragovi U, Ikeda Y, Zabbarova I, Kanai AJ, Yoshiyama M, Farhadi HF, de Groat WC, Vizzard MA, Yoon SO. J Clin Invest. 2018 May 1;128(5):1772-1786. doi: 10.1172/JCI97837. Epub 2018 Mar 26.
Rhythmic Calcium Events in the Lamina Propria Network of the Urinary Bladder of Rat Pups. Heppner TJ, Hennig GW, Nelson MT, Vizzard MA. Front Syst Neurosci, 2017 Dec 11;11:87.
PACAP/Receptor System in Urinary Bladder Dysfunction and Pelvic Pain Following Urinary Bladder Inflammation or Stress. Girard BM, Tooke K, Vizzard MA. Front Syst Neurosci. 2017 Dec 4;11:90. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2017.00090. eCollection 2017. Review.
Parabrachial Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Activation of Amygdala Endosomal Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling Regulates the Emotional Component of Pain. Missig G, Mei L, Vizzard MA, Braas KM, Waschek JA, Ressler KJ, Hammack SE, May V. Biol Psychiatry. 2017 Apr 15;81(8):671-682.
Accelerated onset of the vesicovesical reflex in postnatal NGF-OE mice and the role of neuropeptides. Girard B, Peterson A, Malley S, Vizzard MA. Exp Neurol. 2016 Nov;285(Pt B):110-125.
Pannexins: the 'nexus' between urothelium ATP production and extracellular release. Vizzard MA. J Physiol. 2015 Apr 15;593(8):1759-60.
Parabrachial nucleus (PBn) pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) signaling in the amygdala: implication for the sensory and behavioral effects of pain. Missig G, Roman CW, Vizzard MA, Braas KM, Hammack SE, May V. Neuropharmacology. 2014 Nov;86:38-48.
Role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation in micturition reflexes in cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystitis in female rats. Dugan C, Malley S, Arms L, May V, Vizzard MA. J Mol Neurosci. 2014 Nov;54(3):360-9.
Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CARTp): distribution and function in rat urinary bladder. Zvarova K, Herrera GM, May V, Vizzard MA. J Mol Neurosci. 2014 Nov;54(3):351-9.
Social stress induces changes in urinary bladder function, bladder NGF content, and generalized bladder inflammation in mice. Mingin GC, Peterson A, Erickson CS, Nelson MT, Vizzard MA. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2014 Oct 1;307(7):R893-900.