Our BioEngineering Approach
Laboratory Expertise
The HematoVascular Engineering Laboratory integrates preclinical imaging, mechanobiology, computational modeling, and exercise physiology to study how biochemical signals released by mechanically stimulated circulating cells affect cardiovascular health.
Research ToolKit
Preclinical Cardiovasular Imaging
My research program will use surgical mouse models of atherosclerosis (A), aneurysms (B), and thrombosis, as well as advanced photoacoustic (C) and ultrasound imaging (D) to study RBC mechanosignaling throughout vascular disease progression.
Vascular Mechanobiology
My laboratory will use advanced vascular mechanobiology approaches to study extracellular vesicles (A), endothelial cells (B), and arteries (C) under physiologically-relevant flow conditions.
Computational Modeling
My team will use HemoCell, an open-source computational modeling framework, to study RBC mechanics in different blood flow conditions.
Exercise Physiology
We will use short-term exercise in people and long-term exercise in mice to study activation and adaption of RBC mechanosignaling.
DisCoveries in Red Blood Cell Mechanosignaling
Nitric Oxide
Extracellular Vesicles
Extracellular Vesicles
Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important biomolecules needed to regulate vascular health. Our research suggests that red blood cells (RBCs) release NO during exercise and under mechanical stimulation. The Western blot above shows that mechanically stimulated RBCs augment activation of eNOS, the primary enzyme that produces NO.
Extracellular Vesicles
Extracellular Vesicles
Extracellular Vesicles
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a novel signaling molecule, defined as a lipid-bound particle that can systemically transport signaling molecules. Our research suggests that RBCs release EVs under mechanical stimulation that contain atheroprotective contents. The transmission electron microscopy image above shows EVs released from mechanically stimulated RBCs.