The Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering Department is hosting a seminar with INBT’s director, Sharon Gerecht, as guest speaker. Dr. Gerecht will be discussing, “Guiding 3D Vascular Fate and Assembly.”

Abstract: Vascular differentiation and formation (morphogenesis) takes place in an intricate milieu. This unique microenvironment is situated throughout the body in diverse types of healthy tissues, yet it seems to activates/inhibits similar mechanisms of the microvasculature. Two parameters of this microenvironment seem critical for blood vessel growth and stabilization: (i) the extracellular matrix, which provides critical support for vascular cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and morphogenesis, and (ii) low oxygen concentrations (hypoxia), which is a critical factor promoting vascularization during embryonic development and tumor growth. In this talk I will present our recent efforts to understand how these physicochemical cues and downstream signaling pathways impact vascular fate and assembly from progenitors and pluripotent stem cells.

Location: Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, Clark Hall 110. Overflow will be in Kavli 316.

Reception to follow, Clark Hall first floor lobby.