William Bernard

Supervisor: Dr Sanjay Sinha

Title: The role of notch in vascular smooth muscle cell development and disease

Abstract: Smooth muscle cells (SMC) arise from a variety of embryological origins, and it has been suggested that the SMC origin may predispose specific vascular beds to disease. We are interested in the physiological properties of these lineage-specific SMCs, and in particular, the signalling pathways which regulate their development. We are utilising a human embryonic stem cell approach to elucidate the role of Notch signalling in the development of lineage-specific SMC. This research hopes to unravel the signalling pathways involved during normal development, to allow us to further investigate what occurs in specific vascular diseases.

References:

Bernard WG, Granata A, Sinha S. Notch3 Regulates Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Development and Functionality in a Lineage Specific Manner: Implications in the Pathology of CADASIL. BAS/BSCR /BCS joint spring meeting, 2013.