Rate My Professor Frank Hays

The research program of Frank Hays centers on the biological roles of bioactive redox small molecules in human health and disease, integrating methodologies such as computational and structural biology, protein biochemistry, food chemistry, in vitro and in vivo bioassays, zebrafish genetics, database development, and compositional analysis of foodstuffs. Active projects include the development of a nitrate and nitrite composition database for foods and supplements, elucidation of the p66Shc adaptor protein's functions in ischemia-reperfusion injury, wound healing, organ transplantation, metabolic disorders, myocardial infarction outcomes, and diabetic nephropathy, and investigations into tetraspanin integral membrane proteins' roles in vascular inflammation and membrane microdomains. Hays has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, including "Tetraspanin-enriched membrane domains regulate vascular leakage by altering membrane cholesterol accessibility to balance antagonistic GTPases" (Nature Cardiovascular Research, 2025), "Exploring the Gut-Mitochondrial Axis: p66Shc Adapter Protein and Its Implications for Metabolic Disorders" (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024), "Dietary Nitrate from Plant Foods: A Conditionally Essential Nutrient for Cardiovascular Health" (Advances in Nutrition, 2023), "p66Shc in Cardiovascular Biology" (Cells, 2022), "Nitrate and nitrite quantification in U.S. vegetable-based baby foods and infant formula via ozone chemiluminescence" (Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2025), and "Imatinib binding to human c-Src is coupled to inter-domain allostery and suggests a novel kinase inhibition strategy" (Scientific Reports, 2016). His scholarship has garnered over 3,300 citations, contributing substantially to advancements in cardiovascular health, diabetes research, and nutritional biochemistry. Hays received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the NIH during his postdoctoral training.