The Vascular Physiology cluster is headed by prof dr Mark J Post. Dr Mirjam oude Egbrink en dr Hans Vink are staff members. Research focuses on :
1. Neovascularization in ischemic cardiovascular tissues
2. Atherothrombosis
3. Glycocalyx and microvascular dysfunction
Projects include therapeutic neovascularization in models of coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease, genomic analysis of collateralization, stem cells in tissue engineering and molecular imaging of neovascularization.
Atherothrombosis is studied in models of atherosclerosis with real time intravital imaging, lifetime fluorescence and 2-photon laser scanning microscopy. We have a particular interest in the role of the glycocalyx in atherothrombosis. In the embryonic development of the vasculature we are interested in arterio-venous specification, the forces (hemodynamic, genetic or epigenetic) that govern vascular patterning and the role of neuronal patterning genes in vascular development.
With the recruitment of dr. Hans Vink and his group in july 2006, we are now able to focus on the glycocalyx as a highly dynamic structure that may serve as a missing substrate between metabolic alterations and vascular complications.