Gerald Meininger , PhD

Research in this laboratory is focused on vascular physiology and cell biology with an emphasis the microvasculature.

Active areas of research include:1) Cell adhesion, extracellular matrix and cell signaling in the vascular wall; 2) Mechanotransduction and mechanosensation in vascular cells; 3) Microvascular control during tissue injury; 4) Cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for mechanotransduction; 5) Mechanisms responsible for the myogenic properties of vascular smooth muscle; 6) Application of fluorescence microscopy and 3D-image analysis for studies of microvascular cell biology and the cyto-architecture and function of the microvessel wall; 7) Interaction of local vascular control with neurohumeral mechanisms of vasoregulation; 8) Microvascular control and adaptations during hypertension; and 9) Mechanisms of blood flow autoregulation.

An emphasis over the last several years has been to understand the role of the extracellular matrix, cell adhesion and the cytoskeleton in regulation of microvessel function; especially in the control of vascular tone. A fundamental aim has been to determine to what extent this matrix-adhesion-cytoskeletal axis may be involved in mechanotransduction phenomena that underlie regulation of vascular diameter such as the vascular myogenic response, flow-dependent responses of the endothelium and vascular remodeling.

 

More information on Dr. Meininger and his lab can be found here.