|
|
IME $6.7
Million Bioengineering Grant
The
NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute has awarded an interdisciplinary
research grant to Institute for Medicine and Engineering (IME) investigators
led by Dr. Peter F. Davies. The grant, totaling $6.7 million over
five years, focuses on the biomechanics of cardiovascular cells,
membranes, and molecules with emphasis on how these properties determine
and control cardiovascular tissue function. The partnership is composed
of two interactive components: fundamental cell and molecular investigations
of cardiovascular mechanotrans-duction, and preclinical studies
of engineered arteries, heart valve calcification, and microcoil
treatment of intracranial aneurysms.
Complementary experimental
approaches that are both design-driven and hypothesis-driven include
geometric constraints, spatial analyses, protein conformational
changes, deformation properties of molecules and membranes, and
mass transport characteristics that regulate vascular cell structure,
gene expression, function, and maladaptation to blood flow forces
leading to pathological change.
The integrative
group of IME investigators is Dr. Peter F. Davies, director, IME,
professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, SOM, and bioengineering,
SEAS; Dr. Scott L. Diamond, associate professor of chemical engineering,
and bioengineering, SEAS, and pharmacology, SOM; Dr. Dennis E. Discher,
associate professor of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics,
bioengineering, and chemical engineering, SEAS; Dr. Keith J. Gooch,
assistant professor of bioengineering, SEAS; Dr. Daniel A. Hammer,
professor and chair, bioengineering and chemical engineering, SEAS;
Dr. Paul A. Janmey, professor of physiology, SOM, bioengineering,
SEAS, and physics, SAS; Dr. Irena Levitan, research assistant professor
of pathology & laboratory medicine, SOM; Dr. Valerie M. Weaver,
assistant professor of pathology
and laboratory medicine, SOM; and Dr. Robert J. Levy, professor
of pediatrics and senior scientist at the Stokes Research Institute,
CHOP.
Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 8, October 16, 2001
|
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:
Tuesday,
October 16, 2001
Volume 48 Number8
www.upenn.edu/almanac/
|
