Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The major goal of the research performed in my laboratory is to discover novel strategies for controlling blood vessel formation in skeletal muscle. Growth of new blood vessels is a necessary physiological response that is compromised in some disease states, such as diabetes. Efficient manipulation of blood vessel growth (also called angiogenesis) requires a thorough understanding of the intricacies of the growth process in order to select appropriate and effective therapeutic targets. My research group has demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an integral role in the initiation of angiogenesis in skeletal muscle by selectively cutting the mesh-like matrix that surrounds blood vessels, enabling new blood vessels to sprout. We now study the ways in which these MMPs are controlled during the process of blood vessel sprouting. In this proposal, we will determine some of the key stimuli that can increase the amount of MMPs available, and how these stimuli direct the organization of MMPs at the tips of sprouting blood vessels, thus provides focused cutting of the matrix immediately in front of the sprouting tip. The findings from my research will provide building blocks for the future successful development of new strategies for controlling blood vessel growth in individuals lacking sufficient blood supply to their skeletal muscle, improving quality of life and decreasing health costs.