Renovascular Disease - Lilach O. Lerman

Objectives

The Reno-Vascular Research Laboratory focuses on development and application of techniques to study renal and cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology in animal models and in humans. Specific areas of interest include renovascular disease, cardio-renal interactions, and the kidney and myocardial microcirculation. The laboratory is involved in short-term and long-term studies to establish mechanisms of renal and cardiac injury and adaptation to cardiovascular risk factors, the metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis (including vascular remodeling, inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis).

The research tools include wet-lab methods, as well as sophisticated, high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, computer-based modeling, and image analysis. Disease mechanisms are often initially investigated in vivo using imaging, and subsequently correlated with tissue alterations determined with molecular biology and cell culture techniques. Potential therapeutic targets and interventions being explored include regenerative medicine, revascularization, and novel drugs.