Fibrosis
The deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and formation of scar tissue are critical processes in development and the response to injury. Yet excessive ECM deposition can also disrupt function of the heart, lungs, liver, and other organs. Our faculty are using computational modeling, systems biology, imaging, biomaterials development, and tissue engineering to understand, image, and treat fibrosis.
BME Primary Faculty in this Area
Daniel Abebayehu
Thomas H. Barker
Thomas Barker explores and therapeutically exploits the fundamental links between fibroblast adaptation to their physical and biochemical microenvironment and their myofibroblastic differentiation during tissue repair, fibrosis and cancer.
Steven R. Caliari
Steven joined the faculty of the University of Virginia in August 2016 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
George Joseph Christ
George Joseph Christ, Ph.D., develops basic and translational tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches to organ and tissue repair, reconstruction and replacement, with a focus on the musculoskeletal system, vasculature and lower urinary tract. Dr. Christ is an internationally recognized expert in muscle physiology.
Frederick H. Epstein
Dr. Epstein is recognized for his contributions to the field of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. He has been a world leader in advancing MRI myocardial strain imaging by developing and applying the cine DENSE (displacement encoding using stimulated echoes) MRI method.
Donald Richieri Griffin
Donald Griffin improves clinical translation of acellular and cellular therapies through enhanced hydrogel-tissue integration, specifically focusing on the development of passive and active instructional microenvironments using microscale building blocks.
Shayn Peirce-Cottler
Shayn Peirce-Cottler develops computational models and combines them with wet lab experiments and machine learning to study how tissues heal after injury and to develop new therapies for inducing tissue regeneration.
Jeff Saucerman
Jeff Saucerman, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, combines computational models and high-throughput experiments to discover molecular networks and drugs that control cardiac remodeling.
More about Fibrosis Research at UVA
UVA Fibrosis Initiative
Mobilizing the University to Fight a Common Killer
A Grounds-wide effort led by TOM BARKER to mobilize UVA researchers conducting fibrosis-related studies. The goal is to produce fundamental insights and facilitate multi-investigator research awards.