Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

The processes of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and vascular network remodeling are essential driving forces in the development of the cardiovascular system, and in the pathogenesis of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. We are interested in studying the genetic and biomechanic components involved in angiogenesis using an animal embryonic system. Specifically, we are interested in the role of 3 candidate genes potentially involved in angiogenesis and the biomechanical forces of vascular development. Recent discoveries made in animal embryos, including from our own research group, have identified genetic and environmental elements (such as hemodynamics and blood flow) to play a dynamic role in shaping the vascular system. We propose to use novel imaging techniques in combination with an animal model of embryogenesis in order to dynamically visualize and examine the process of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. These studies can shed insight on how the vascular network is formed during embryonic development, which may also be relevant in the development of therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular pathologies and tumor growth.