Dr. Phillippi leads an interdisciplinary research team of microvascular enthusiasts who study the vasa vasorum, a network of microvessels that nourish larger arteries and veins. The team’s main goal is to leverage new knowledge of the underlying matrix-mediated mechanisms governing vasa vasorum (dys)function to develop preventative and less invasive surgical treatments for patients affected by cardiopulmonary diseases.
The Phillippi Cardiac Research Laboratory utilizes surgically-obtained human tissue and blood to develop in vitro human disease models at the cell, tissue, and whole vessel levels. There is focused attention on the perivascular microenvironment of the adventitia, vasa vasorum-associated cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Cardiac Research Laboratory is to leverage cell-matrix mechanisms in normal physiology for the development of new and less invasive treatments for cardiovascular pathologies. To achieve this mission, our laboratory partners with cardiothoracic surgeons to leverage an abundance of clinical and surgical expertise to shape and execute clinically-relevant inquiries through basic science experimental designs.
Our team of vascular cell and matrix biologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, research coordinators, physician assistants, and nurses strives to provide a dynamic interdisciplinary training environment at an important clinical, basic science, and bioengineering intersection. These facets will enable impactful basic science discoveries that translate toward innovative clinical decision making in the management of patients affected by cardiovascular disease. In this lab, we believe that science is real, love is love, immigrants are welcome, diversity is essential, black lives matter, and blood vessels are cool.
For additional information about Dr. Phillippi's laboratory, please visit the Cardiac Research Laboratory webpage.