Welcome to the Integrative Vascular Biology & Metabolism Lab (IVM Lab) at IIT Dharwad.

At the IVM Lab, we stand at the confluence of fluid dynamics, endothelial cell biology, vascular immunology, and metabolism, embracing an interdisciplinary approach to understand how vascular systems govern health and disease. We ask a central question: how do blood vessels adapt to physiological demands, and how does their dysfunction actively drive diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegeneration?

We view the vasculature not as a passive conduit, but as a dynamic, metabolically active interface where endothelial cells integrate mechanical and biochemical signals to maintain tissue homeostasis. Our research focuses on how these signals—particularly blood flow–derived mechanical forces and disease-associated cues reprogram endothelial cells under pathological stress.

A major focus of our work is to understand how disturbed flow and pathological stimuli rewire endothelial metabolism and signaling, triggering inflammation, vascular remodeling, and breakdown of critical barriers such as the blood–brain barrier. In parallel, we investigate how endothelial cells orchestrate vascular–immune crosstalk, acting as key regulators of systemic inflammation and disease progression.

By combining advanced experimental approaches with in vivo disease models and systems-level analysis, we aim to uncover fundamental principles of vascular dysfunction. Our goal is to identify actionable molecular targets and develop innovative therapeutic and diagnostic strategies to restore vascular integrity and intercept disease at its earliest stages. Through this integrative framework, the IVM Lab seeks to redefine vascular biology as a central driver of disease and a powerful avenue for therapeutic intervention.