Recorded Webinar Featuring Stephan Huveneers, Ph.D.

Description

Our next webinar will be with Dr. Stephan Huveneers, Associate Professor from University Medical Center in Amsterdam. The title of his talk is "Force-dependent regulation of endothelial adhesion in vascular development and disease." 

Abstract: Blood vessels are continuously exposed to mechanical forces such as shear stress, blood pressure, and vessel wall stiffness. The vascular endothelium—a dynamic barrier between blood and tissue—plays a critical role in sensing these mechanical cues through a process known as mechanotransduction. This process is essential for maintaining vascular homeostasis, and its dysregulation contributes to stiffness-associated cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, edema, and atherosclerosis. A key determinant of endothelial function lies in the force-sensitive nature of cell adhesions, particularly integrin-based adhesions and intercellular junctions. In our work, we investigate how these adhesive structures respond and adapt to mechanical forces. I will present our latest findings identifying novel molecular systems that regulate endothelial barrier function and angiogenesis.