Members’ Labs

Andrew Vaughan, PhD October 28, 2024 Associate Professor Biomedical Sciences University of Pennsylvania   Primary Research: The Vaughan lab’s research is focused on defining and understanding the relevant cell types and molecular mechanisms by which the mammalian lung is able to regenerate after severe injury. We are especially interested in elucidating the means by which…

Guizhen Zhao, PhD September 29, 2024 Assistant Professor Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Houston   Primary Research: The Zhao lab is dedicated to uncovering the epigenetic and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including aortic aneurysm and dissection, and atherosclerosis, while also driving innovations in drug discovery. Currently, our research focuses on…

Dolly Mehta, PhD September 2, 2024 Professor Pharmacology & Regenerative Medicine University of Illinois Chicago   Primary Research: The main focus of our lab is to investigate cellular signaling in endothelial cells that triggers vascular injury and those that repair the damage to reinstate tissue functions. We seek to understand how stressors (such as ligands…

Laura Pillay, PhD August 1, 2024 Assistant Professor Department of Biology Western Washington University   Primary Research: The Pillay Lab uses zebrafish and cell culture systems to identify and understand molecular mechanisms that regulate blood vessel development and integrity. Our current research is focused on using modern imaging, molecular biology, and genetic approaches to investigate…

Taija Mäkinen, PhD July 1, 2024 Professor Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology Uppsala University and Wihuri Research Institute/University of Helsinki   Primary Research: Our research focuses on the fundamental mechanisms that govern the development, maintenance, and regeneration of a functional lymphatic vasculature. We also investigate the involvement of lymphatic vessels in organ-specific physiology and…

Cristina Espinosa-Diez, PhD May 31, 2024 Assistant Professor Wayne State University   Primary Research: Welcome to the Espinosa-Diez lab, where we are dedicated to understanding how external stressors impact vascular remodeling and dysfunction. Our research primarily explores the impact of cancer therapeutics and DNA-damaging agents on vascular health, particularly through changes in epigenetic modifications like…

Sharon Gerecht, PhD May 1, 2024 Paul M. Gross Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering Duke University   Primary Research: Our lab studies how the microenvironment regulates cellular responses, with the long-term goal of developing countermeasures and therapeutics. We develop biomaterials and culture systems to emulate mechanical and physical stressors toward understanding tissue function, reliance, and homeostasis.…

Kunzhe Dong, PhD April 1, 2024 Assistant Professor Augusta University Immunology Center of Georgia   Primary Research: Our lab leverages omics data mining and mouse genetic models to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and aneurysm. Specifically, we are particularly interested in how naturally occurring mutations identified by GWAS are involved…

Richard Pierce, PhD February 23, 2024 Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics Section of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Yale School of Medicine   Primary Research: Our passion is to understand blood vessel dysfunction in the setting of critical illness. Blood vessels, and the endothelial cells that line them, extend to within micron of all the cells…

Jennifer S. Fang, PhD January 24, 2024 Assistant Professor Department of Cell and Molecular Biology Tulane University   Primary Research: Our group is interested in better understanding how blood vessels grow, remodel, and reorganize during healthy tissue development to form mature structures such as arteries, capillaries and veins, and how this process might go awry…