Academic Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of central vision loss among the elderly, particularly in its neovascular (NV) form, where choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leads to rapid and severe vision loss. Current AMD treatments primarily rely on intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (...

ALK1/Endoglin Signaling Restricts Vein Cell Size Increases in Response to Hemodynamic Cues Academic Background The normal development and function of the vascular system rely on precise regulation of blood vessel diameter. Hemodynamic cues, such as fluid shear stress (FSS), are considered critical factors in regulating vessel diameter. According to...

Academic Background and Problem Statement Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) are benign vascular anomalies prone to pain, bleeding, and progressive growth. The primary cause of AVMs is somatic mutations in the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway. However, not all patients have identifiable causative mutations. To further explore the pathogenesis of AVMs, re...

Academic Background The formation and maintenance of vascular networks are critical processes in embryonic development and tissue regeneration, involving the regulation of various biophysical forces. Endothelial cells (ECs) play a central role in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, with the contractile forces of the cytoskeleton (actomyosin contractil...

Research Background Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein. Recent studies have increasingly highlighted the role of cerebrovascular alterations in the pathogenesis of AD. Specifically, endothelial cell damage and inflam...