K. Joseph Hurt, MD, PhD

Education
MD Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 2005
PhD (Neuroscience) Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 2010

Contact
Research Complex 2
12700 East 19th Avenue
Room 3003, MS 8613
Aurora, CO 80045

Phone: (303) 724-5965
Fax: (303) 724-3512

Research Interests
Dr. Joe Hurt is a physician-scientist and clinical perinatologist, studying bench-based translational perinatal and reproductive physiology. His lab investigates the signals and mechanisms that regulate the normal and dysfunctional onset of parturition and uterine contractions, in order to identify novel therapies to prevent the complications of prematurity. The group is also interested in basic gasotransmitter signaling mechanisms, such as those underlying relaxation of vascular and uterine smooth muscle by nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide. The lab uses a variety of techniques to answer translational questions in mouse models and human tissues, including approaches from pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular and cell biology. Our laboratory participates in the following PhD graduate programs: Integrated Physiology, Biomedical Sciences (BSP), and the Medical Scientist Training Programs (MSTP). We also participate in other clinician-scientist, clinical fellow, and translational sciences training programs. Any interested graduate and medical students, residents, and fellows are encouraged and welcome to contact us and meet to discuss perinatal research opportunities. For more information about the Hurt Lab and current projects, please follow our web link above.

Full List of Publications

Recent Publications

1. Ozemek C, Hildreth KL, Blatchford PJ, Hurt KJ, Bok R, Seals DR, Kohrt WM, Moreau KL. Effects of resveratrol or estradiol on postexercise endothelial function in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2020 Apr 1;128(4):739-747. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00488.2019. Epub 2020 Mar 5. PubMed PMID: 32134713.
2. Porter AC, Gumina DL, Armstrong M, Maclean KN, Reisdorph N, Galan HL, Stabler SP, Bailey BA, Hobbins JC, Hurt KJ. Maternal Amino Acid Profiles to Distinguish Constitutionally Small versus Growth-Restricted Fetuses Defined by Doppler Ultrasound: A Pilot Study. Am J Perinatol. 2020 Mar 2;. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701504. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32120425.
3. Diko S, Guiahi M, Nacht A, Connell KA, Reeves S, Bailey BA, Hurt KJ. Prevention and Management of Severe Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASIs): a National Survey of Nurse- Midwives. Int Urogynecol J. 2020 Mar;31(3):591-604. doi: 10.1007/s00192-019-03897-x. Epub 2019 Mar 15. PubMed PMID: 30877353.
4. Fore MS, Allshouse AA, Carlson NS, Hurt KJ. Outcomes of trial of labor after cesarean birth by provider type in low-risk women. Birth. 2020 Mar;47(1):123-134. doi: 10.1111/birt.12474. Epub 2019 Dec 10. PubMed PMID: 31823421; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7047558.
5. Guerra DD, Bok R, Cari EL, Nicholas C, Orlicky DJ, Johnson J, Hurt KJ. Effect of neuronal nitric oxide synthase serine-1412 phosphorylation on hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian function and leptin response. Biol Reprod. 2020 Feb 26;. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa025. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32101284.
6. Murgia F, Corda V, Serrenti M, Usai V, Santoru ML, Hurt KJ, Passaretti M, Monni MC, Atzori L, Monni G. Seminal Fluid Metabolomic Markers of Oligozoospermic Infertility in Humans. Metabolites. 2020 Feb 11;10(2). doi: 10.3390/metabo10020064. PubMed PMID: 32053951; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7074256.
7. Guerra DD, Bok R, Lorca RA, Hurt KJ. Protein kinase A facilitates relaxation of mouse ileum via phosphorylation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Br J Pharmacol. 2020 Jan 23;. doi: 10.1111/bph.15001. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31975425.
8. Vyas V, Guerra DD, Bok R, Powell T, Jansson T, Hurt KJ. Adiponectin links maternal metabolism to uterine contractility. FASEB J. 2019 Dec;33(12):14588-14601. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901646R. Epub 2019 Oct 30. PubMed PMID: 31665924; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6894045.
9. Guerra DD, Bok R, Vyas V, Orlicky DJ, Lorca RA, Hurt KJ. Akt phosphorylation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase regulates gastrointestinal motility in mouse ileum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Aug 27;116(35):17541-17546. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1905902116. Epub 2019 Aug 12. PubMed PMID: 31405982; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6717252.
10. Guerra DD, Hurt KJ. Gasotransmitters in pregnancy: from conception to uterine involution. Biol Reprod. 2019 Jul 1;101(1):4-25. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioz038. PubMed PMID: 30848786; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6614580.