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In Person Seminar: Examining the Alveolar-Capillary Barrier in Lung Injury and Repair

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Rebecca Heise, Ph.D.

Rebecca Heise, Ph.D.

Associate Professor 
Department of Biomedical Engineering
College of Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University

Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar: Examining the Alveolar-Capillary Barrier in Lung Injury and Repair

Date: March 10, 2023

Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

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About this Seminar

Lung injuries such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute lung injury, or ventilator-associated lung injury cause disruption in the alveolar-capillary barrier leading to edema and lack of gas exchange. The mechanical environment in the lung plays an important role in maintaining this barrier. The constantly moving lung subjects cells to mechanical strain and shear stress during normal breathing. Lung injury, aging extracellular matrix, and obstructive pulmonary diseases alter this mechanical environment, changing the strain, shear stress, and stiffness of the pulmonary extracellular matrix. Dr. Heise's talk will discuss how these mechanical changes alter cellular signaling and function focusing on aging alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages in murine ventilator-induced lung injury and the role of extracellular matrix in alveolar epithelial barrier formation.

Additional Details

This is a free event hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and co-sponsored by the institute's Center for Vascular and Heart Research. The Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar Series, which runs annually from September to May, has featured leading biomedical researchers from throughout the country since the program began in 2012. The lectures are also open to all members of the Virginia Tech community including graduate students, undergraduates, faculty, and staff, as well as the public.

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