Endothelial cells lining the blood vessel’s lumen are the key regulators of vascular homeostasis. They serve as active signal transducers for blood flow and circulating bioactive molecules. At the same time, endothelium-derived vasoactive substances work to maintain healthy blood pressure and the delivery of nutrients to the organs. The dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells triggers sequential events leading to the development of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide, taking more than 18 million lives each year. Uncovering novel mechanisms that cause endothelial cell dysfunction in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, abnormal lipids or obesity, helps to develop new venues for the prediction, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Professor Huang Yu
Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Jeanie Hu Professor of Biomedical Sciences