"Role of Shear Stress on Endothelial Cell Regulation of Elastases and Collagenases under the Unique Inflammatory Conditions of Sickle Cell Disease"

Remodeling of cerebral arteries in children as early as 3 years old with sickle cell disease results in a 220-fold increase in stroke risk; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Here, we investigate how the pathological hemodynamic and inflammatory environment unique to sickle cell disease activates cathepsins, powerful proteases involved in arterial remodeling, in order to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Jenna Wilson - Advisor, Todd McDevitt, PhD

"A Microfluidic Tool for Single-cell Analysis of Embryoid Body Heterogeneity"

Embryonic stem cells are often cultured as embryoid bodies (EBs), a platform which allows for spontaneous differentiation and results in phenotypic heterogeneity. To explore and assess this heterogeneity, a microfluidic-based analytical method will be described which determines the characteristics of individual cells that make up a single EB.