Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
My research interests are focused on understanding the molecular pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension and on developing methods to study mechanisms governing the vascular remodeling that occurs in response to hypoxia. I have set up a mouse model for hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, and I demonstrated that mice lacking endothelial Fibroblast Growth Factor signaling develop more severe disease. I have also shown that activation of endothelial FGF signaling prevents this disease. I am utilizing a microfluidic device to simulate physiologic vasculature and I have shown that loss of endothelial FGFR1 and FGFR2 leads to abnormal smooth muscle cell activity. I am very excited about using these models to understand signaling mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension and in using this knowledge to develop therapeutic strategies to treat patients that are at risk of developing pulmonary hypertension.