Integrating Vascular Mechanics and Biomedicine

Biomechanical factors play a critical role in the cardiovascular system during development, adaptation, and pathogenesis. The main focus of our conference is to elucidate the effect of biomechanical factors, including shear stress and wall stress, on the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and aneurysms. Our meeting brings together vascular biologists, biomedical engineers, and clinicians, who are working on a common theme, but who normally do not overlap at a single meeting. Therefore, this GRC will bring these groups together in a single interdisciplinary meeting, where ideas and insights can cross between groups. To discover diagnostic and therapeutic targets, we will embrace three important concepts that will be structured in our program: 1) cellular mechanosensors and signaling; 2) biomechanically-mediated initiation, progression, and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques and aneurysms; and 3) imaging and computation of atherosclerotic plaques and aneurysms. We aim to bridge advances in inter-disciplinary, multi-institutional, and team science with discovery, education, and translation to understand and conquer the cardiovascular disease. We also actively promote diversity and inclusion at this GRC.