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Mathematical Biology seminar
Jeffrey A. Weiss, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Bioengineering,
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Orthopaedics,
Faculty Member, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute,
University of Utah
"Angiogenesis and the Extracelular Matrix"
April 14, 2004
3:05pm in LCB 215
Angiogenesis, the formation and growth of new blood vessel
sprouts from existing vessels, is the process by which the
additional vascular elements are formed from an initial
vascular plexus. During angiogenesis, previously quiescent
endothelial cells are stimulated to exhibit migratory and
proliferative phenotypes, leading to the formation of new
vessel sprouts. The process of angiogenesis is fundamentally
important to the formation of new vasculature during
development, wound healing and tumorigenesis. We are using a
novel 3D in vitro model of angiogenesis to examine
interactions between angiogenic microvessels and the
extracellular matrix. The model is based on the isolation and
culture of microvessel fragments in a 3D collagen matrix. To
quantitatively evaluate the interactions of angiogenic vessels
with the extracellular matrix and investigate mechanical
interactions at the level of the sprouting microvessel, a
mechanical modeling approach is needed that will allow the
study of local stresses around growing microvessel sprouts.
Further, it is desirable to perform nondestructive
quantification and localization of alterations in the
structure of the ECM that accompany vessel sprouting. This
talk will discuss the mechanical modeling and measurement
techniques that are being developed to support this research
and the experimental results obtained to date.
For more information contact J. Keener, 1-6089
E-mail:
keener@math.utah.edu
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