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Sumanas Lab

Funding

Zebrafish help to identify genetic causes of vascular disease

Current Funding

Novel Mechanisms of Vasculogenesis

The proposed study will investigate the functional role and lineage contribution of a novel population of blood vessel progenitor cells which we have identified in zebrafish embryos. These cells contribute to vascular growth by a novel mechanism of intercalation into existing vasculature. The acquired knowledge will promote development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at repairing damaged vessels in multiple vascular diseases.

Previous Funding

Characterization of a novel hematopoietic site

The goal of this project was to identify a role of novel progenitor cells that we hypothesized to contribute to hematopoietic system. We have subsequently demonstrated that these cells in fact contribute to established blood vessels by a novel process of cell intercalation and we are currently pursuing these studies further.

Molecular Mechanisms of Arterial-Venous Differentiation in Zebrafish

In this project we have demonstrated that arterial and venous progenitors originate at different times and distinct embryonic sites. We further established that different levels of Vegf signaling works together with ETS transcription factor Etv2 to initiate expression of arterial and venous genes thus initiating endothelial differentiation program

The role of Collagen COL22A1 in intracranial aneurysms and vascular stability

The goal of this project is to determine the role of collagen COL22A1 in vascular stability using zebrafish model system. We are also using zebrafish model to test a functional effect of mutant variants identified in human individuals with intracranial aneurysms.