HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Sidney Strause, a biomedical research doctoral student at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, received the International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) Poster Prize at the 17th International Meeting on P-Type ATPases in Health & Disease, held in Cairns, Australia.

Her research focused on how the sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase or NKA) regulates cardiac myocyte metabolism through the modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), providing insights into the cellular mechanisms that support heart energy production and resilience.

Strause’s study found that reducing NKA alpha 1 — the pump’s primary subunit — disrupted mitochondrial energy production and prevented heart cells from switching to backup fuel sources under stress. This work helps explain why changes in NKA alpha 1 are associated with heart disease and may inform future therapies aimed at improving heart metabolism and patient outcomes.

Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to lower NKA levels in heart muscle cells, Strause and her team tracked how cells adapted to stress and different fuel sources, shedding light on potential therapeutic strategies for heart failure.

Guided by faculty mentors Sandrine Pierre, Ph.D., Marco Pessoa, Ph.D., and Liquan Cai, Ph.D., Strause received hands-on mentorship that strengthened both her scientific expertise and professional confidence. The experience allowed her to present her work on an international stage and represent Marshall University among leading scientists in the field.

Strause is currently pursuing a Ph.D. with an emphasis in cardiovascular cell biology and plans to continue in academic research, aiming to advance cardiovascular science and mentor future researchers.