Brent A. French

Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Contact

bf4g@virginia.edu

Mobile

(434) 924-5728

Location

MR5 Building, Room 1219, P.O. Box 800759

Lab

MR5 Building, Rooms 1205 and 1219

About

Brent A. French combines advanced methods of targeted drug and gene delivery with biomedical imaging in vivo to explore novel targets and treatment strategies in cardiovascular disease. Research interests of the Molecular Bioengineering Lab focus on developing new, more effective strategies for treating and preventing human disease. In parallel, we develop novel diagnostic imaging methods to better understand the progression/regression of disease and the impact of novel therapies on specific disease targets. A highly-collaborative, interdisciplinary approach is used to integrate recent technical advances in multiple fields with our highly translational research. In particular, cutting-edge imaging techniques such as MRI, PET and ultrasound are used to expedite research by providing accurate measures of novel therapies against heart attack and heart failure.

Education

B.S. in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University in 1982

Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University in 1987

Post-Doc Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX/NIH/Dept. of Cell Biology from 1987-91

Our research has impact in: 1) uncovering disease mechanisms, 2) evaluating novel therapies, and 3) developing new imaging methods for diagnostics.

Brent a. French Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Targeted Drug and Gene Delivery

Biomedical Imaging

Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials

Cardiovascular Disease

Selected Publications

Contrast enhanced ultrasound reveals partial perfusion recovery after hindlimb ischemia as opposed to full recovery by laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Ultrasound Med Biol. 48(6):1058-1069, 2022 Becker Ab, Chen L, Ning B, Hu S, Hossack Ja, Klibanov Ak, Annex Bh, French Ba

ABS

Molecular Mechanisms of Adenosine Stress T1 Mapping. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 14(3):e011774, 2021 Shah Sa, Reagan Ce, French Ba, Epstein Fh

ABS

Implications of scar structure and mechanics for post-infarction cardiac repair and regeneration. Exp Cell Res. 376(1):98-103, 2019 French Ba, Holmes Jw

ABS

Development of target-specific liposomes for delivering small molecule drugs after reperfused myocardial infarction. J Control Release. 28(220 Pt A):556-67, 2015 Dasa Ss, Suzuki R, Gutknecht M, Brinton Lt, Tian Y, Michaelsson E, Lindfors L, Klibanov Al, French Ba, Kelly Ka.

ABS

Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 administered systemically after reperfusion preferentially targets cardiomyocytes in the infarct border zone with pharmacodynamics suitable for the attenuation of LV remodeling. J Gene Med 14(9-10):609-20, 2012 Konkalmatt Pr, Wang F, Piras Ba, Xu Y, O'connor Dm, Beyers Rj, Epstein Fh, Annex Bh, Hossack Ja, French Ba

ABS

Robust cardiomyocyte-specific gene expression following systemic injection of AAV: In vivo gene delivery follows a Poisson distribution. Gene Therapy 18(1):43-52, 2011 Prasad Kmr, Xu Y, Yang Z, Acton St, French Ba

ABS

Courses Taught

BME 3080 - Biomedical Engineering IDEAS Laboratory

BME 4806 - Biomedical Applications of Genetic Engineering

BME 7806 - Biomedical Applications of Genetic Engineering

Featured Grants & Projects

Optical imaging in the Development of Molecularly Targeted AAV for Cardiac Regeneration Source: NIH, NHLBI; R01 HL147193 (PI = BA French) Period: 04/01/19 – 03/31/24. Amount: $1,615,000 (Total direct & indirect over entire period)

Bioengineering of Cardiac Regeneration In Situ after Myocardial Infarction Source: CHRB #207-10-19 (PI = BA French, Co-I = JJ Saucerman & MD Wolf) Period: 07/01/19 – 06/30/23. Amount: $266,000 (Total direct & indirect over entire period)

Multiparametric MRI for the Investigation of Coronary Microvascular Disease Source: NIH, NHLBI; R01 HL147104 (PI = FH Epstein, Co-I = BA French & MD Wolf) Period: 04/01/22 – 03/31/26. Amount: $2,997,885 (Total direct & indirect over entire period)