Principal Investigator Shiladitya Sengupta
Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) have been implicated in modulating ligand receptor interactions. We are modifying the GAG sequences on the cell surface using known-down approaches and are exploring the role of defined GAG sequences in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Furthermore, in a collaboration with Dr. Dirk Hentschel, a clinical faculty at BWH, we are recapitulating the effects in vertebrates, including in the zebra fish. We hope to unravel how the formation of blood vessels is controlled by the microenvironment, and use this information to modulate therapeutic neovascularisation, an essential goal for the management of diabetic wound healing, ischaemic episodes such as strokes, etc.