Research Strengths

By co-locating 6 faculty labs in one central facility, we share expertise and invest in robust resources to pursue high-impact science. The federally funded Jobst Labs occupy 4,900 square feet in the U-M’s North Campus Research Complex, and focus on venous thrombosis, vascular inflammation, thrombus resolution, traumatic injury, nephropathy, abdominal aneurysms, and medical device testing.

Our multidisciplinary efforts include mechanical, biomedical and aerospace engineers, as well as vascular surgeons. We use powerful computing cores, including U-M’s Flux supercomputing infrastructure, to enable efficient computation of hemodynamics in complex image-based cardiovascular models. This blood-flow modeling opens up possibilities to evaluate the performance of endovascular stent grafts, and to support surgical decision-making before such procedures as TEVAR and EVAR.

We investigate basic mechanisms for coordinating immune cells in early tissue repair to find better treatments for patients with type 2 diabetes with impaired wound healing. Our focus is on histone methylation changes in bone marrow progenitor cells and the impact, chronic as well as inflammation associated with aneurysms and atherosclerosis/PAD on peripheral macrophage phenotypes relating to wound healing and inflammation.

In order to improve outcomes for patients, we study variation in medical endovascular and surgical treatment across the VA healthcare system, investigating the underlying factors for these differences. Partnerships for this effort include the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation and the VA Center for Clinical Management and Research.

The management and pathology of young patients with fibromuscular dysplasia and children with developmental aortic coarctation and renovascular hypertension have fueled ongoing translational research. We focus on the genetic basis of pediatric renovascular hypertension resulting from developmental arterial dysplasia. Genetic methods are used to discover associations. The findings are then carried forward to functional, mechanistic studies using molecular, genetic and vascular biology techniques.

Ensuring that patient voices are heard throughout the decision making process leads to better outcomes and patient satisfaction. We explore how to create individualized patient treatment plans that fit each patient’s needs. We are involved in the Vascular Cures Foundation’s Project Voice, a digital platform designed to customize options for care based upon data from patients. Using quantifiable objective information, patients provide input on what options are the best fit for them, increasing communication.