Dr. Alexander (Sasha) Staruschenko is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology and Director of the Hypertension and Kidney Research Center. His research focuses on the mechanisms regulating ion channel activity and electrolyte homeostasis in the control of blood pressure and kidney disease. His laboratory is continuously funded by the NIH, VA, AHA, and other agencies, and he has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles in leading nephrology and hypertension journals. Dr. Staruschenko has mentored numerous students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty; in recent years, several trainees from his laboratory have established independent research programs. His contributions have been recognized nationally through more than 100 invited lectures at local, national, and international meetings and through numerous awards from the American Physiological Society, American Heart Association, and American Society of Nephrology, including the ASN Distinguished Researcher Award, the APS Bodil M. Schmidt-Nielsen Distinguished Mentor and Scientist Award, and the USF Outstanding Research Achievement Award. Dr. Staruschenko is an active member of several professional societies and contributes extensively to their activities. He serves on editorial boards and in editorial leadership roles, including as Deputy Editor of Am J Physiol: Renal Physiol. He previously served as Chair of the AHA Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease (KCVD) Council and as a member of the leadership committees of both the KCVD and Hypertension Councils. He has also served as a chair, standing member, and ad hoc reviewer for numerous study sections, including those of the NIH, VA, DOD, AHA, ADA, JDRF, and various international agencies.