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Curriculum Vitae

Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is a cell-mediated disease that presents in two main phenotypes: fibrotic and calcific. It is well understood that these fibrotic and calcific phenotypes present themselves differently in men and women; women are more likely to present with extensive fibrosis and microcalcifications, whereas men are more likely to present with macrocalcifications. There are currently no pharmaceutical treatments approved to tackle this disease, which is fueled by a few factors. Namely, the disease is complex, fueled by cell-cell interactions, immune involvement, and sexual dimorphisms that are poorly understood. Keeping these complexities in mind, we seek to develop a greater understanding of the disease progression to find potential drug targets. Utilizing our novel polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel with a collagen interpenetrating network, we hope to gain a better understanding of VIC/macrophage cross talk and the impacts of small-molecule drugs on VIC phenotype.