Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of worldwide death. To improve the prevention and treatment of CVD, increase quality of life and reduce early death, it is necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms of CVD. I will study how cells of blood vessels communicate and how they respond to mechanical loading.

The protein studied is Jagged1, a protein involved in neighboring cells communicate with one another to make sure they correctly coordinate their decisions to form a healthy tissue. This research combines quantitative proteomics, molecular biology in organ-on-chip and zebrafish models. By studying how this communication responds to the forces inherent to the cardiovascular systems, new innovative drugs can be developed to help treat and prevent disease.