Vascular Aging

VASCULAR AGING:

Aging is the phenomenon of progressive deterioration of organ and tissue function. Cellular aging is not uniform across time or space. This deterioration is the major risk factor for major human pathologies including cancer, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and other debilitating diseases. The vasculature is a hierarchically high driver of physiological aging at large in multiple organs mediated by the primary growth factor VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). VEGF is the primary growth factor responsible for the formation of new blood vessels. In this lab, we are interested in investigating how manipulation of vasculature could reverse the course of aging or at least alter it towards ‘healthier aging’.  We are also interested in studying how vascular insufficiency leads to accelerated aging.