Cardiovascular Science
MPP research projects in Cardiovascular Sciences investigate the physiology and pathophysiology of a wide range of organs and tissues including heart, vasculature, microcirculation, lymphatics, kidney, pancreas and lung. Current projects include:
- Investigating the molecular basis for human capillary tube formation in 3D extracellular matrices, and the recruitment of pericytes and their support of endothelial cell-lined tubes through basement membrane matrix formation.
- Investigating the signaling and molecular mechanisms of microvascular permeability during inflammation, trauma, infection, sepsis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and metastatic tumor development.
- Investigating the molecular mechanisms that control lymphangiogenesis and the formation of lymphatic valves, the intrinsic pumping of lymphatic vessels, the solute permeability of lymphatic endothelium, the role of lymphatic vascular permeability in immune cell trafficking to the lymph node, and lymphodema.
- Investigating electrical impulse propagation through the normal and abnormal heart, and the role of ions, channels and intrinsic cardiac nerves in the generation of arrhythmia in pathological conditions.
- Investigating the neural control of the heart by defensive reflexes evoked from the lungs by pollutants, and the pathological remodeling of these pathways in cardiovascular disease such as hypertension.
- Investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying kidney function and dysfunction in acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy and graft dysfunction after kidney transplantations.
- Elucidating the role of non-coding RNA in vascular diseases including coronary artery stent restenosis and infantile hemangioma, and exploiting their specificity to target novel therapeutics.
- Targeting metabolism to improve pancreatic and systemic function.
