149 Beaumont Ave.
Firestone 461
Burlington, VT 05405
United States
- Ph.D., Pharmacology, University of Vermont
- B.S. Biology (Animal Physiology), University of New Mexico
Department of Pharmacology
BIO
An alumni of UVM, Dr. Herrera returned to UVM in 2019 as a Research Assistant Professor.
Dr. Herrera's research is focused on understanding the basic physiology of the lower urinary tract, with a particular emphasis on the smooth muscle of the urinary bladder. He is especially interested in the ion channels that regulate the function of bladder smooth muscle—how they contribute to excitability, contractility, and coordination of voiding. By identifying and characterizing these channels, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms that maintain normal bladder function and contribute to dysfunction in disease.
Another central area of research focus is the sensory signaling that occurs during bladder filling. Dr. Herrera is seeking to identify the specific cell types in the bladder wall that detect changes in volume and stretch. These include not only smooth muscle cells but also interstitial cells, urothelial cells, and resident sensory neurons. Understanding how these cells transduce mechanical cues into electrical or chemical signals is key to decoding how bladder state is monitored.
A particularly important question is how information about bladder fullness is relayed to the central nervous system to coordinate both conscious and reflex control of micturition. Using mouse models, he approaches these questions from multiple levels—from molecular analysis and cell-specific manipulations, to integrated studies in the intact animal. The lab aims to bridge the gap between basic bladder physiology and the neural circuits that govern urinary voiding behavior.
Publications
Awards and Achievements
2007-present, President, Catamount Research and Development, Inc., Fairfax, VT
2005-present, Vice President, Medical Associates, Inc., Fairfax, VT
5/93-5/94 Dean’s List, University College, University of New Mexico
8/93-5/97 Presidential Scholarship, University of New Mexico, 8/93-5/97
8/94-5/97 Semester Honor Roll, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Mexico
5/94 Excellence in Undergraduate French Studies, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, University of New Mexico
5/95 1994-1995 Merck Index Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Chemistry Student, Department of Chemistry, University of New Mexico
8/95 First place in University of New Mexico MBRS/MARC Student Presentation Day Competition
3/96 Best Undergraduate Student Oral Presentation, Fifth Annual Biology Research Day, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
4/96 NIDDK Minority Travel Award, Experimental Biology 96
9/96 Scholarship Recipient, IX Annual International Vascular Biology Meeting
1997 Presidential Fellowship, Minority Education Division, The Graduate School, University of Washington, Awarded but declined
1997 Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship for Minorities, Awarded but declined
4/97 NIDDK Minority Travel Award, Experimental Biology 97
4/97 Special Award: Three Years of Excellence in Oral Presentation, Sixth Annual Biology Research Day, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
5/97 Most Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, Biological Society of New Mexico
5/97 Bachelor of Science Magna cum laude in Biology, Department of Biology, Summa cum laude University of New Mexico
6/97-1/00 National Science Foundation Minority Graduate Fellowship
4/98 APS Minority Travel Fellowship Award, Experimental Biology 98
4/99 APS Minority Travel Fellowship Award, Experimental Biology 99
4/99 Proctor & Gamble Professional Opportunity Award, APS Cell & Molecular Physiology Section, Experimental Biology 99
5/99 First Place in Graduate/Medical Student Research Forum, University of Vermont
4/00 APS Minority Travel Fellowship Award, Experimental Biology 2000
5/00 Third Place in Graduate/Medical Student Research Forum, University of Vermont
4/01 APS Minority Travel Fellowship Award, Experimental Biology 2001
12/02 Travel Award to attend 10th Annual Society for Basic Urological Research Fall Meeting
2003 Special Award for Recognition of Devoted Service, DeGoesbriand Council 279 Knights of Columbus, Burlington, VT
2006 Nominated for Family of the Year Award, Vermont State Council Knights of Columbus
Bio
An alumni of UVM, Dr. Herrera returned to UVM in 2019 as a Research Assistant Professor.
Dr. Herrera's research is focused on understanding the basic physiology of the lower urinary tract, with a particular emphasis on the smooth muscle of the urinary bladder. He is especially interested in the ion channels that regulate the function of bladder smooth muscle—how they contribute to excitability, contractility, and coordination of voiding. By identifying and characterizing these channels, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms that maintain normal bladder function and contribute to dysfunction in disease.
Another central area of research focus is the sensory signaling that occurs during bladder filling. Dr. Herrera is seeking to identify the specific cell types in the bladder wall that detect changes in volume and stretch. These include not only smooth muscle cells but also interstitial cells, urothelial cells, and resident sensory neurons. Understanding how these cells transduce mechanical cues into electrical or chemical signals is key to decoding how bladder state is monitored.
A particularly important question is how information about bladder fullness is relayed to the central nervous system to coordinate both conscious and reflex control of micturition. Using mouse models, he approaches these questions from multiple levels—from molecular analysis and cell-specific manipulations, to integrated studies in the intact animal. The lab aims to bridge the gap between basic bladder physiology and the neural circuits that govern urinary voiding behavior.
Publications
Awards and Achievements
2007-present, President, Catamount Research and Development, Inc., Fairfax, VT
2005-present, Vice President, Medical Associates, Inc., Fairfax, VT
5/93-5/94 Dean’s List, University College, University of New Mexico
8/93-5/97 Presidential Scholarship, University of New Mexico, 8/93-5/97
8/94-5/97 Semester Honor Roll, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Mexico
5/94 Excellence in Undergraduate French Studies, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, University of New Mexico
5/95 1994-1995 Merck Index Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Chemistry Student, Department of Chemistry, University of New Mexico
8/95 First place in University of New Mexico MBRS/MARC Student Presentation Day Competition
3/96 Best Undergraduate Student Oral Presentation, Fifth Annual Biology Research Day, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
4/96 NIDDK Minority Travel Award, Experimental Biology 96
9/96 Scholarship Recipient, IX Annual International Vascular Biology Meeting
1997 Presidential Fellowship, Minority Education Division, The Graduate School, University of Washington, Awarded but declined
1997 Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship for Minorities, Awarded but declined
4/97 NIDDK Minority Travel Award, Experimental Biology 97
4/97 Special Award: Three Years of Excellence in Oral Presentation, Sixth Annual Biology Research Day, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
5/97 Most Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, Biological Society of New Mexico
5/97 Bachelor of Science Magna cum laude in Biology, Department of Biology, Summa cum laude University of New Mexico
6/97-1/00 National Science Foundation Minority Graduate Fellowship
4/98 APS Minority Travel Fellowship Award, Experimental Biology 98
4/99 APS Minority Travel Fellowship Award, Experimental Biology 99
4/99 Proctor & Gamble Professional Opportunity Award, APS Cell & Molecular Physiology Section, Experimental Biology 99
5/99 First Place in Graduate/Medical Student Research Forum, University of Vermont
4/00 APS Minority Travel Fellowship Award, Experimental Biology 2000
5/00 Third Place in Graduate/Medical Student Research Forum, University of Vermont
4/01 APS Minority Travel Fellowship Award, Experimental Biology 2001
12/02 Travel Award to attend 10th Annual Society for Basic Urological Research Fall Meeting
2003 Special Award for Recognition of Devoted Service, DeGoesbriand Council 279 Knights of Columbus, Burlington, VT
2006 Nominated for Family of the Year Award, Vermont State Council Knights of Columbus