Rate My Professor Rachel Wallace

Rachel Wallace serves as an Assistant Research Fellow in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, at the University of Otago. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Master of Science (MS). Her research specializes in cellular signaling within the cardiovascular system, focusing on the identification of regulatory mechanisms in cardiovascular tissues through in vivo and in vitro model systems. As a vital member of the Erickson Lab, Wallace investigates the molecular mechanisms driving heart failure and vascular disease, with particular emphasis on conditions like hypertension and diabetes. The lab develops innovative tools such as FRET-based biosensors for real-time measurement of kinase activity and localization in living cells, custom antibodies to detect specific biochemical modifications of proteins, and genetically modified animal models exhibiting altered susceptibility to cardiovascular pathologies. Key areas of inquiry include the role of CaMKII in regulating cellular signaling in the diabetic heart, CaMKII's involvement in vascular physiology and pathology, and nitric oxide as a critical mediator of cardiac signaling pathways.

Wallace has made significant contributions to the scientific literature through co-authored publications in high-impact journals. In 2023, she co-authored 'Nitric oxide modulates Ca2+ leak and arrhythmias via S-nitrosylation of CaMKII' in Circulation Research (volume 133, pages 1040-1055), elucidating how S-nitrosylation of CaMKII by nitric oxide affects calcium leak and arrhythmia propensity. That same year, 'Direct regulation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) by O-GlcNAcylation' appeared in Cardiovascular Diabetology (volume 22, article 276), demonstrating O-GlcNAcylation's direct influence on RyR2 function. Additional works include 'Mapping O-linked glycosylation in the rat hypothalamus in pregnancy and lactation' in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology (2025, advance online) and conference presentations such as 'Impact of microRNA15b and CaMKIIδ on cardiac fibrosis in diabetes' at the 17th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (2023), as well as 'Nitric oxide modulates spontaneous calcium release and ventricular arrhythmias during β-adrenergic signalling through S-nitrosylation of calcium/calmodulin dependent kinase II' in Heart, Lung & Circulation (2022). In 2025, she was honored with the Research Support award from the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, recognizing her instrumental role in advancing laboratory research efforts. Through these endeavors, Wallace's work enhances understanding of post-translational modifications in cardiac and vascular signaling, holding promise for novel therapeutic strategies in cardiovascular disorders.