People in Research

Joe McGonigle

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Advisor: Marta Scatena, Ceci Giachelli

Department/status: 4th year, Bioengineering

Project overview:
My project is focused on studying the role of osteoprotegerin in angiogenesis. We are interested in determining the mechanisms by which osteoprotegerin stimulates blood vessel formation as well as investigating the potential use of this protein to improve biomaterial healing and function.

Project details:
Osteoprotegerin, is known to play an important role in bone biology through its regulation of osteoclast differentiation and function. However, recent work indicates that this protein has important effects in the vasculature as well where it acts as a survival factor for endothelial cells and prevents arterial calcification. Our lab is using a variety of in vitro and ex vivo models to study the mechanisms by which osteoprotegerin promotes angiogenesis, the sprouting of new blood vessels. We are also attempting to utilize osteoprotegerin to promote vascularization of biomaterial constructs in vivo.

Skills:
Molecular Biology: Standard recombinant DNA, RNA, and protein techniques such as cloning, PCR, northern blotting, real time PCR, western blotting, ELISA, etc.
Cell Biology: Tissue culture, gene delivery (viral and nonviral), apoptosis assays, rat aortic ring angiogenesis assay
Microscopy: Phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy, histology
In vivo angiogenesis and biomaterials studies
Course work in mathematical modeling, biomaterials, microfluidics, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, pathology, physiology, statistics

Relevant honors or funding:
NIH UWEB Biomaterials Training Grant