Agarwal awarded NSF research grant

Congratulations to Gunjan Agarwal, associate professor, Biomedical Engineering (BME) who has received a new 3-year National Science Foundation (NSF) award for her research programs related to collagen fibril structure and vascular calcification.

Her research titled “Collagen fibril structure, surface charge and vascular calcification” aims to provide novel insights into how collagen fibrils can be a mediator of pathological calcification in the vessel wall. Aortic calcification is a hallmark of aortic aneurysms and atherosclerosis and can lead to adverse consequences such as stiffening of arteries and disruption of normal hemodynamics, often leading to morbidity and mortality. Insights gained from this research will advance the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing soft-tissue calcification, especially in its early stages. This knowledge can help improve cardiovascular outcomes by designing new strategies for early diagnosis and treatment, as well as aid biomaterials development for cardiovascular bio prosthesis.

The research supported by this grant will also provide multidisciplinary hands-on research experience to a graduate and undergraduate student(s) and enrichment activities to under-privileged K-8 students. This project is in collaboration with associate professor and physician, Michael Go (Vascular Surgery) and has a budget of $330,000.