Gerhardt Lab

The Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory aims to unravel the fundamental principles and molecular/genetic regulation of functional vascular network formation in development and disease. The ultimate goal of our research activities is to advance our understanding of mechanisms and molecules controlling formation and patterning of a hierarchically branched vascular network such that we can inform, innovate and implement therapeutic approaches to mitigate cardiovascular complications, and establish or restore tissue homeostasis in compromised patients. We develop and use genetic tools to image and manipulate molecules, complexes and cells in spatiotemporal controlled manner in vivo in mouse and zebrafish models. We further use iteration between predictive computational modeling and experimentation to develop hypothesis and systems level understanding of the processes at play.