Dawn Johnson
Papers
2
Total Citations
18
H-Index
2
About
Dawn Johnson’s research has advanced our understanding of how cardiovascular risk factors—particularly cigarette smoke and hypercholesterolemia—interact to impair vascular function. In her most-cited work, “Combined exposure to cigarette smoke and hypercholesterolemia decreases vasorelaxation of the aorta” (1997, 11 citations), Johnson demonstrated that the synergistic effect of these two common exposures significantly reduces aortic relaxation, a key indicator of endothelial health. She further refined this insight in “Cholesterol, But Not Cigarette Smoke, Decreases Rabbit Carotid Artery Relaxation” (1999, 7 citations), isolating cholesterol as the primary driver of impaired relaxation in carotid arteries, while smoke alone had a lesser effect. These studies, though modest in citation count, provided foundational evidence for the differential impacts of combined versus isolated risk factors on vascular reactivity. Johnson’s work is notable for its careful experimental design, using animal models to parse complex interactions that inform public health messaging about smoking and diet. Her contributions remain relevant for researchers exploring the mechanistic pathways of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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