Tatiana V. Byzova, PhD

The major objective of my research program is to fully integrate the mechanistic studies performed at the molecular and cellular levels with complex in vivo models of human diseases to yield a complete understanding of fundamental problems in physiology and pathophysiology. The major research focus of the lab is on the mechanisms governing the pathological and adaptive vasculature development, neoangiogenesis, in adult organisms. This process is crucial for the tissue recovery from ischemia, a response that is triggered in a variety of pathogenic settings including the complications of thrombosis, injury and wound healing, and cancer progression and tumor metastatic spread. At the cellular level, we are interested in endothelial cell biology, the role of inflammatory and other blood cells, including platelets, during neovascularization. To consider neoangiogenesis at a molecular level, my research has emphasized the regulatory functions of extracellular matrix, its cellular receptors, integrins and signaling pathways and the interrelationship between these processes. For our angiogenesis studies, we employ cutting edge animal models, including angiogenesis induced by various tumors, by ischemic conditions in hind limbs, wounds and skin transplants, and by gene transfer of the growth factor of interest. We have established a number of other valuable in vivo models that include wound healing, tumor progression, metastasis and tumor-induced bone remodeling in transgenic/knockout mice, angiogenesis and blood flow analysis, atherosclerosis and thrombosis models.