Projects

Each link in the list to the left links to a page describing the premise, recent results, recent publications, and funding sources for one of our research projects. We have grouped these projects into 4 categories according to broad questions that motivate our work:

1) How do myocytes and fibroblasts sense and respond to their mechanical environment?
Both myocytes and fibroblasts have the ability to sense and respond to their mechanical environment. The mechanisms underlying these mechanoregulatory processes are essential components of normal cardiac development and disease.

2) What are the mechanical properties of healthy and diseased cardiovascular tissues?
Measuring mechanical properties in healthy and diseased tissues is an important foundation for all of biomechanics. In the Cardiac Biomechanics Group, we measure these properties on a macroscopic scale in native and engineered tissues as well as at the nano-scale in single cells.

3) How can we design engineered tissues to repair or replace myocardium and what can we learn from the process?
In addition to the obvious benefits of being able to replace diseased tissue with a healthy engineered substitute, the process of trying to engineer a tissue forces us to understand the native tissue better. We must identify the essential properties that give that tissue its function and understand how to modify or create those properties.

4) How can we apply biomechanics to improve diagnosis, understanding, and treatment of heart disease?
The ultimate goal of our research is to benefit patients. In collaboration with our colleagues at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, some of our projects focus directly on current clinical problems in cardiology and surgery.