Our research

Blood vessels are the lifeline of every tissue, and building them reliably is central to the promise of regenerative medicine. Our research follows the full arc of vascular biology and engineering. We study the progenitor cells that give rise to new vessels, generate vascular cells from human pluripotent stem cells, bioengineer perfused vascular networks in vivo, and genetically engineer the vasculature to deliver therapeutic proteins. Together, these efforts aim to turn reliable vascularization into a foundation for the next generation of cell-based and tissue-engineered therapies.

Endothelial colony-forming cells

ECFCs are progenitors of endothelial cells that circulate in peripheral blood. We specialize in the biology of human ECFCs derived from umbilical cord blood and adult peripheral blood.

Pluripotent stem cell-derived vascular cells

Pluripotent stem cells are a valuable tool in regenerative medicine. We specialize in the biology and applications of endothelial cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (h-iPSCs).

Bioengineering vascular network

Vascular networks are central to the functioning of most tissues. We use a two-cell approach to bioengineer human vascular networks in vivo.

Genetically engineered vasculature

We are developing models that use genetically-engineered ECFCs to achieve controlled administration of therapeutic proteins in vivo.