Gary Desir

Desir was born in Haiti{{Cite web|last=Parry|first=Julie|title=Desir Shares Life Story, Advice in "The Importance of Being Present"|url=https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/desir-shares-life-story-advice-in-the-importance-of-being-present/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=medicine.yale.edu|language=en}} and has studied rhétorique from St Louis de Gonzague. He moved to the US in 1972 and in 1973 he enrolled in the bachelors program at New York University. In 1976, he graduated as a BS in biology while receiving the membership of Phi Beta Kappa.{{Cite web|title=Gary V. Desir, M.D., appointed Chair and Chief of Internal Medicine|url=https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/12647/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=medicine.yale.edu|language=en}} In 1980, he graduated with honors from Yale University and became part of the Alpha Omega Alpha.{{Cite web|title=Gary Desir, MD|url=https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/gary_desir/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=medicine.yale.edu|language=en}} From 1980 to 1983 he trained in internal medicine. He took part in the fellowship program in nephrology. He worked for 3 years as the research fellowship at Yale University in nephrology with specialization in potassium channels (molecular physiology).

In 1988, Desir was appointed as an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine. He became associate professor and professor in 1993 and 2003 respectively. From 1997 to 2004, he served as the section chief of nephrology at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. He worked as the chair of internal medicine at VACHS from 2004 to 2013.{{Cite web|title=Gary V. Desir, M.D., appointed Chair and Chief of Internal Medicine|url=https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/gary-v-desir-md-appointed-chair-and-chief-of-internal-medicine/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=medicine.yale.edu|language=en}} In 2013, he was appointed on interim basis as the chair of the department of internal medicine at Yale School of Medicine.{{Cite web|title=Gary V. Desir, M.D., HS '83, FW '87, named interim chair of internal medicine|url=https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/gary-v-desir-md-hs-83-fw-87-named-interim-chair-of-internal-medicine/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=medicine.yale.edu|language=en}} He was appointed to the permanent chair in 2015.{{Cite web|title=More news about Yale people|url=https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/5111-more-news-about-yale-people|access-date=2021-09-17|website=yalealumnimagazine.com|language=en}} In 2016 Desir was designated as the Paul B. Beeson Professor of Internal Medicine at Yale.{{Cite web|date=2016-09-06|title=Dr. Gary Desir designated the Beeson Professor of Internal Medicine|url=https://news.yale.edu/2016/09/06/dr-gary-desir-designated-beeson-professor-internal-medicine|access-date=2021-09-17|website=YaleNews|language=en}} Desir is also vice provost for faculty development and diversity.{{Cite web|title=DIM Comp R2|url=https://issuu.com/yale66/docs/internal_medicine_comp_r2|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Issuu|language=en}}{{Cite book|date=2020|editor-last=Sanger|editor-first=Catherine Shea|editor2-last=Gleason|editor2-first=Nancy W.|title=Diversity and Inclusion in Global Higher Education|url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-15-1628-3|language=en-gb|doi=10.1007/978-981-15-1628-3|isbn=978-981-15-1627-6 |s2cid=237868497 }}

Desir's most notable research activity include the discovery of the agent renalase, which is basically a renal protein. It can be classified as an enzyme as well as a hormone - such nature being decided on its site of action with the prospect of being used in dual-purpose.{{Cite web|title=Gary Desir|url=https://www.yalemedicine.org/specialists/gary_desir|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Yale Medicine|language=en}} The primary function of renalase is as an intracellular enzyme that controls and manipulates energy production at granular level. It also has the protective characteristics that it exhibits against cell injury and stress, once it secretes in the plasma.{{Cite journal|last=Desir|first=Gary|title=Novel insights into the physiology of renalase and its role in hypertension and heart disease|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21424526/|journal=Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)|year=2012|volume=27|issue=5|pages=719–725|doi=10.1007/s00467-011-1828-7|issn=1432-198X|pmid=21424526|s2cid=8473507}}{{Cite web|last=Desir|first=Gary|title=Renalase Deficiency and Cardiovascular Complications of Chronic Kidney Disease|url=https://grantome.com/grant/NIH/RC1-DK086402-01|language=en}}

Desir is also the founder of biotech firm Personal Therapeutics, that works exploring the prospects of commercializing renalase and its pathway while basing the foundations in two concepts, viz. renalase agonist and renalase antagonist. Renalase agonist primarily deals with the role of renalase in mitigating tissue injury in myocardial infarction whereas renalase antagonist is based on the concept of fighting cancer cells{{Cite web|first=Grace|last=Castillo|date=2016-03-29|title=Potential treatment for pancreatic cancer on horizon|url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2016/03/29/potential-treatment-for-pancreatic-cancer-on-horizon/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Yale Daily News|language=en}} which "highjack the renalase pathway as a survival mechanism".{{Cite web|title=AMHE Newsletter. In this number. Winter Haitian Medical Association Abroad Association Medicale Haïtienne à l'étranger. - PDF Free Download|url=https://docplayer.fr/84677728-Amhe-newsletter-in-this-number-winter-haitian-medical-association-abroad-association-medicale-haitienne-a-l-etranger.html|access-date=2021-09-17|website=docplayer.fr}}{{Cite journal|last1=Guo|first1=Xiaojia|last2=Hollander|first2=Lindsay|last3=MacPherson|first3=Douglas|last4=Wang|first4=Ling|last5=Velazquez|first5=Heino|last6=Chang|first6=John|last7=Safirstein|first7=Robert|last8=Cha|first8=Charles|last9=Gorelick|first9=Fred|last10=Desir|first10=Gary V.|date=2016-03-14|title=Inhibition of renalase expression and signaling has antitumor activity in pancreatic cancer|journal=Scientific Reports|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=22996|doi=10.1038/srep22996|pmid=26972355|pmc=4789641|bibcode=2016NatSR...622996G |issn=2045-2322}}{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Yang|last2=Safirstein|first2=Robert|last3=Velazquez|first3=Heino|last4=Guo|first4=Xiao-Jia|last5=Hollander|first5=Lindsay|last6=Chang|first6=John|last7=Chen|first7=Tian-Min|last8=Mu|first8=Jian-Jun|last9=Desir|first9=Gary V.|title=Extracellular renalase protects cells and organs by outside-in signalling|journal=Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine|year=2017|volume=21|issue=7|pages=1260–1265|doi=10.1111/jcmm.13062|issn=1582-1838|pmc=5487909|pmid=28238213}} During covid-19 pandemic, a correlation was claimed in a Yale researchers report between low levels of the renalase and poor outcome of clinical treatment of covid patients.{{Cite web|title=Blood protein predicts poor COVID-19 outcomes|url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-06-blood-protein-poor-covid-outcomes.html|access-date=2021-09-17|website=medicalxpress.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-07|title=Kidney enzyme renalase a potential therapy for severe COVID-19|url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200607/Kidney-enzyme-renalase-a-potential-therapy-for-severe-COVID-19.aspx|access-date=2021-09-17|website=News-Medical.net|language=en}}

Desir is an active advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion{{Cite web|last=Parry|first=Julie|title=Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Focus Of Department of Internal Medicine|url=https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/diversity-equity-inclusion-focus-of-department-of-internal-medicine/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=medicine.yale.edu|language=en}} and a founding member of the Minority Organization for Retention & Expansion executive committee of Yale.{{Cite web|title=Who We Are|url=https://medicine.yale.edu/more/people/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=medicine.yale.edu|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2016-04-24|title="Black Women in Medicine" Documentary to Screen at Yale on Tuesday 4/26|url=https://goodblacknews.org/2016/04/24/black-women-in-medicine-documentary-to-screen-at-yale-on-tuesday-426/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Good Black News|language=en-US}} Under dual teaching appointment, Desir conducts the graduate course "Sustainable Development in a Post-Disaster Context" at the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, in collaboration with the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Deschapelles, Haiti.{{Cite web|first=Amy|last=Xiong|date=2018-03-30|title=Global Health Day addresses climate change|url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/03/30/global-health-day-addresses-climate-change/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Yale Daily News|language=en}}

• Jianchao Xu, Guoyong Li, Peili Wang, Heino Velazquez, Xiaoqiang Yao, Yanyan Li, Yanling Wu, Aldo Peixoto, Susan Crowley, and Gary V. Desir; Renalase is a novel, soluble monoamine oxidase that regulates cardiac function and blood pressure.{{Cite journal|last1=Xu|first1=Jianchao|last2=Li|first2=Guoyong|last3=Wang|first3=Peili|last4=Velazquez|first4=Heino|last5=Yao|first5=Xiaoqiang|last6=Li|first6=Yanyan|last7=Wu|first7=Yanling|last8=Peixoto|first8=Aldo|last9=Crowley|first9=Susan|last10=Desir|first10=Gary V.|date=2005-05-02|title=Renalase is a novel, soluble monoamine oxidase that regulates cardiac function and blood pressure|url=http://www.jci.org/articles/view/24066|journal=Journal of Clinical Investigation|language=en|volume=115|issue=5|pages=1275–1280|doi=10.1172/JCI24066|issn=0021-9738|pmc=1074681|pmid=15841207}}
• International Union of Pharmacology. XLI. Compendium of Voltage-Gated Ion Channels: Potassium Channels George A. Gutman, K. George Chandy, John P. Adelman, Jayashree Aiyar, Douglas A. Bayliss, David E. Clapham, Manuel Covarriubias, Gary V. Desir, Kiyoshi Furuichi, Barry Ganetzky, Maria L. Garcia, Stephan Grissmer, Lily Y. Jan, Andreas Karschin, Donghee Kim, Sabina Kuperschmidt, Yoshihisa Kurachi, Michel Lazdunski, Florian Lesage, Henry A. Lester, David McKinnon, Colin G. Nichols, Ita O'Kelly, Jonathan Robbins, Gail A. Robertson, Bernardo Rudy, Michael Sanguinetti, Susumu Seino, Walter Stuehmer, Michael M. Tamkun, Carol A. Vandenberg, Aguan Wei, Heike Wulff and Randy S. Wymore{{Cite journal|last1=Gutman|first1=George A.|last2=Chandy|first2=K. George|last3=Adelman|first3=John P.|last4=Aiyar|first4=Jayashree|last5=Bayliss|first5=Douglas A.|last6=Clapham|first6=David E.|last7=Covarriubias|first7=Manuel|last8=Desir|first8=Gary V.|last9=Furuichi|first9=Kiyoshi|last10=Ganetzky|first10=Barry|last11=Garcia|first11=Maria L.|date=2003-12-01|title=International Union of Pharmacology. XLI. Compendium of Voltage-Gated Ion Channels: Potassium Channels|url=https://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/55/4/583|journal=Pharmacological Reviews|volume=55|issue=4|pages=583–586|doi=10.1124/pr.55.4.9|pmid=14657415|s2cid=34963430}}
• Molecular Diversity and Regulation of Renal Potassium Channels ; Steven C. Hebert, Gary Desir, Gerhard Giebisch, and Wenhui Wang{{Cite journal|last1=Hebert|first1=Steven C.|last2=Desir|first2=Gary|last3=Giebisch|first3=Gerhard|last4=Wang|first4=Wenhui|date=2005-01-01|title=Molecular Diversity and Regulation of Renal Potassium Channels|journal=Physiological Reviews|volume=85|issue=1|pages=319–371|doi=10.1152/physrev.00051.2003|issn=0031-9333|pmc=2838721|pmid=15618483}}
• Catecholamines Regulate the Activity, Secretion, and Synthesis of Renalase Guoyong Li, Jianchao Xu, Peili Wang, Heino Velazquez, Yanyan Li, Yanling Wu, and Gary V. Desir.{{Cite journal|last1=Li|first1=Guoyong|last2=Xu|first2=Jianchao|last3=Wang|first3=Peili|last4=Velazquez|first4=Heino|last5=Li|first5=Yanyan|last6=Wu|first6=Yanling|last7=Desir|first7=Gary V.|date=2008-03-11|title=Catecholamines Regulate the Activity, Secretion, and Synthesis of Renalase|journal=Circulation|volume=117|issue=10|pages=1277–1282|doi=10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.732032|pmid=18299506|s2cid=6658935|doi-access=free}}
• The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 regulates peripheral insulin sensitivity Jianchao Xu, Peili Wang, Yanyan Li, Guoyong Li, Leonard K. Kaczmarek, Yanling Wu, Pandelakis A. Koni, Richard A. Flavell, and Gary V. Desir.{{Cite journal|last1=Xu|first1=Jianchao|last2=Wang|first2=Peili|last3=Li|first3=Yanyan|last4=Li|first4=Guoyong|last5=Kaczmarek|first5=Leonard K.|last6=Wu|first6=Yanling|last7=Koni|first7=Pandelakis A.|last8=Flavell|first8=Richard A.|last9=Desir|first9=Gary V.|date=2004-03-02|title=The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 regulates peripheral insulin sensitivity|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=101|issue=9|pages=3112–3117|doi=10.1073/pnas.0308450100|pmc=365752|pmid=14981264|bibcode=2004PNAS..101.3112X |doi-access=free}}
• Jianchao Xu, Pandelakis A. Koni, Peili Wang, Guoyong Li, Leonard Kaczmarek, Yanling Wu, Yanyan Li, Richard A. Flavell, Gary V. Desir, The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 regulates energy homeostasis and body weight, Human Molecular Genetics, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 March 2003, Pages 551–559,{{Cite journal|last=Xu|first=J.|date=2003-03-01|title=The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 regulates energy homeostasis and body weight|journal=Human Molecular Genetics|volume=12|issue=5|pages=551–559|doi=10.1093/hmg/ddg049|pmid=12588802|issn=1460-2083|doi-access=free}}
• Defective processing and expression of thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter as a cause of Gitelman's syndrome Shanti Kunchaparty, Matthew Palcso, Jennifer Berkman, Heino Velázquez, Gary V. Desir, Paul Bernstein, Robert F. Reilly, and David H. Ellison{{Cite journal|last1=Kunchaparty|first1=Shanti|last2=Palcso|first2=Matthew|last3=Berkman|first3=Jennifer|last4=Velázquez|first4=Heino|last5=Desir|first5=Gary V.|last6=Bernstein|first6=Paul|last7=Reilly|first7=Robert F.|last8=Ellison|first8=David H.|date=1999-10-01|title=Defective processing and expression of thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter as a cause of Gitelman's syndrome|url=https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajprenal.1999.277.4.F643|journal=American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology|volume=277|issue=4|pages=F643–F649|doi=10.1152/ajprenal.1999.277.4.F643|pmid=10516289|issn=1931-857X}}
• Regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function by renalase Author links open overlay panel; Gary V.Desir {{Cite journal|last=Desir|first=Gary V.|title=Regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function by renalase|journal=Kidney International|year=2009|volume=76|issue=4|pages=366–370|doi=10.1038/ki.2009.169|pmid=19471322|issn=0085-2538|doi-access=free}}
• Renalase Lowers Ambulatory Blood Pressure by Metabolizing Circulating Adrenaline Gary V. Desir, LieQi Tang, Peili Wang, Guoyong Li, Benedita Sampaio‐Maia, Janete Quelhas‐Santos, Manuel Pestana, and Heino Velazquez{{Cite journal|last1=Desir|first1=Gary V.|last2=Tang|first2=LieQi|last3=Wang|first3=Peili|last4=Li|first4=Guoyong|last5=Sampaio-Maia|first5=Benedita|last6=Quelhas-Santos|first6=Janete|last7=Pestana|first7=Manuel|last8=Velazquez|first8=Heino|title=Renalase Lowers Ambulatory Blood Pressure by Metabolizing Circulating Adrenaline|journal=Journal of the American Heart Association|year=2012|volume=1|issue=4|pages=e002634|doi=10.1161/JAHA.112.002634|pmc=3487338|pmid=23130169}}
• A Functional Polymorphism in Renalase (Glu37Asp) Is Associated with Cardiac Hypertrophy, Dysfunction, and Ischemia: Data from the Heart and Soul Study Ramin Farzaneh-Far, Gary V. Desir,Beeya Na,Nelson B. Schiller,Mary A. Whooley {{Cite journal|last1=Farzaneh-Far|first1=Ramin|last2=Desir|first2=Gary V.|last3=Na|first3=Beeya|last4=Schiller|first4=Nelson B.|last5=Whooley|first5=Mary A.|date=2010-10-20|title=A Functional Polymorphism in Renalase (Glu37Asp) Is Associated with Cardiac Hypertrophy, Dysfunction, and Ischemia: Data from the Heart and Soul Study|journal=PLOS ONE|language=en|volume=5|issue=10|pages=e13496|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0013496|issn=1932-6203|pmc=2958117|pmid=20975995|bibcode=2010PLoSO...513496F |doi-access=free}}
• Renalase in hypertension and kidney disease, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Gary V. Desir, Aldo J. Peixoto, Volume 29, Issue 1, January 2014, Pages 22–28,{{Cite journal|last1=Desir|first1=Gary V.|last2=Peixoto|first2=Aldo J.|date=2013-10-17|title=Renalase in hypertension and kidney disease|journal=Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation|volume=29|issue=1|pages=22–28|doi=10.1093/ndt/gft083|pmid=24137013|issn=1460-2385|doi-access=free}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/gary_desir/ Gary Desir] at Yale School of Medicine
• [https://www.yalemedicine.org/specialists/gary_desir Gary Desir] at Yale Medicine

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desir, Gary}}

Category:Living people

Category:French nephrologists

Category:American nephrologists

Category:Yale School of Medicine

Category:Yale School of Medicine faculty

Category:Yale School of Medicine alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)