Fibrosis

fibrosis cells

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

Assistant Professor
Dan Abebayehu, PhD, studies fibrosis and how different types of fibroblasts could promote tissue regeneration, instead of scar formation. Dr. Abebayehu's research has been supported by an NIH Mosaic Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) which provides promising postdoctoral scientists support to…

Thomas H. Barker

Professor, Biomedical Engineering

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

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering ChE Graduate Program Director

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

Commonwealth Professor of Engineering Department of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedic Surgery

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

Mac Wade Professor of Biomedical Engineering Professor of Radiology and Medical Imaging Associate Dean for Research, School of Engineering and Applied Science

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

Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering & Chemical Engineering

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

Professor and Chair, Biomedical Engineering Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor

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

Professor, Biomedical Engineering

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.