Microvascular Adaptations in Fibrotic Disease and Microgravity 75 views

Microvascular capillary networks are critical for the delivery of blood and nutrients, and for the clearance of waste products from all tissues. These networks are composed of complex branching networks with highly coordinated cellular interactions. Microvasculature is made up of two cell types: endothelial cells and pericytes. Endothelial cells form the lining of the microvasculature, while pericytes provide support by wrapping around and stabilizing these networks. Microvascular networks are dynamic but can become dysfunctional under chronic perturbation. Microvascular dysfunction is implicated in many diseases and can have systemic health consequences. Despite its importance, the field of microvascular research is limited in its ability to study how networks change during the course of disease, and how these changes may be therapeutically targeted. One disease of particular interest is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a progressive fibrotic disease with significant unmet need in patients who are diagnosed with the condition. In this work, we investigate how disease-relevant model systems may be constructed to better replicate human physiology and develop microvascular-targeted therapeutics. We also investigate how patients can be screened for microvascular abnormalities to identify candidates for precision-guided therapeutic interventions. Finally, we investigate how human microvascular physiology changes under the extreme conditions of microgravity, as a better understanding of the risks to health can help scientists mitigate the harmful effects of long-term exposure.

PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)

Microvasculature; Endothelial cells; Pericytes; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; IPF; Microgravity; Capillary networks; Fibrosis; Lung disease; Fibrotic disease

English

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2026-06-01