Our Mission
Our laboratory strives to understand and seek solutions to pathologies of tubular tissue and organs, such as blood vessels, urethra, colon, esophagus, etc., by applying our strengths in computational and experimental biomechanics, image analysis, cellular and molecular biology, and tissue engineering at an accelerated pace. Our laboratory represents successful collaborations within the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, as well as outside collaborations. We are training the researchers of tomorrow with cutting edge ideas and technology in the following specific research areas:
- Mechanopathobiological assessment of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysm, including rigorous mechanical and architectural characterization of aneurysmal tissue, assessment of the role of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) in the pathophysiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), isolation and phenotypic characterization of cells from the wall and ILT of AAA tissue and understanding their mechanobiology in two- and three- dimensional models, and the development of a patient-specific, biomechanics-based rupture potential index for AAA.
- Mechanical characterization of cerebral aneurysms and treatments associated with this condition using computational and experimental techniques.
- Development of a human stem cell-based tissue engineered vascular graft (TEVG) using novel in-vivo and in-vitro methodologies and approaches.
- Experimental investigation of the role of biomechanical milieu in the development of vascular diseases - such as vein graft intimal hyperplasia, atherosclerosis, etc. - using a novel ex-vivo perfusion system.
- Experimental and computational investigation of diseases of the intestines, esophagus and urethra.
Current Openings
Undergraduate Students
Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts
We are recruiting a junior or senior undergraduate student volunteer researcher interested in our research in tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVG). The student will focus on scaffold fabrication and either (a) testing the scaffold mechanical properties or (b) evaluating cellular response to our biomaterial/cargo. The student will develop skills in scaffold fabrication and either (a) tensile testing, burst pressure testing, compliance testing, and kink resistance testing or (b) cell isolation, PCR, fluorescent staining, and proliferation assays. If you are interested in TEVG mechanical properties, prior experience or a biomechanics class is preferred. If you are interested in TEVG cellular response, prior experience with cell culture is preferred. Interested students, please email vorp@pitt.edu with CC to AMP370@pitt.edu with a resume and short description of your experience/interests.
Endothelial Cells
We are recruiting an undergraduate student volunteer researcher interested in developing protocols for the isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from vascular progenitor cells. The chosen student will develop skills in cell culture, viability and other cellular assays, and EV isolation and characterization procedures. Sophomore/juniors/seniors are preferred, but motivated freshman will be considered. Interested students, please email vorp@pitt.edu with CC to kiran_mc@pitt.edu with a resume and short description of your experience/interests.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
We are recruiting an undergraduate student volunteer researcher interested in the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the context of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Interest or experience in Python/MATLAB and TensorFlow/PyTorch is preferred but not required. Sophomore/juniors/seniors are preferred, but motivated freshman will be considered. Interested students, please email vorp@pitt.edu with CC to katherine.kerr@pitt.edu with a resume and short description of your experience/interests.
For information about other current openings please contact Dr. David Vorp at vorp@pitt.edu.
David A. Vorp, PhD