Department of Bioengineering:

B.A. Mathematics and Biology (1991) Transylvania University

Ph.D. Bioengineering (1998) University of Washington

Integrative biomechanics, biochemistry, pathology, & therapies of heart valve disease; extracellular matrix; proteoglycans, organ cultured & tissue engineered surrogates for studies of soft tissue biology & disease

Email: grande@rice.edu
Phone: 713-348-3704
Office: Keck Hall, 228

K. Jane Grande-Allen
Associate Professor of Bioengineering

Work in my laboratory uses the engineering analysis of tissue composition and behavior to investigate tissue and cellular responses to disease, using the cardiac valves as a paradigm for other soft tissues. These projects are interdisciplinary, innovative, medically and biologically applicable, and clinically relevant. Heart valve disease, whether presenting as a primary dysfunction requiring surgical repair or replacement, or as a secondary complication to another disease such as heart failure, affects the health of hundreds of thousands of Americans (and patients worldwide) every year. The overall focus of our research is to characterize and eventually to manipulate the structure-function-environment relationship of cardiac valves in an integrative fashion (cellular, tissue, organ, and clinical). The matrix composition and material properties of heart valves are believed to be determined by the load patterns imposed during valve function. Consequently, alterations to the normal tissue loading patterns will affect the cellular phenotypic production of extracellular matrix and transform the valve morphology, mechanics, and function. To relate tissue composition and mechanics in leaflets and chordae from normal and diseased mitral valves, our laboratory performs mechanical testing, biochemical measurements, and microstructural analysis of the extracellular matrix (especially glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans) of these tissues. We then correlate these data with echocardiographically assessed cardiac functional parameters and clinical demographics. We are also using cells, organ cultures, and tissue engineering approaches to investigate valve disease from a more mechanistic angle. The main diseases that we study are myxomatous ("floppy") mitral valve disease and secondary remodeling of the heart valves in patients with heart failure, but this research may have implications and applications for other soft tissues. Our goal in characterizing the normal and pathological mechanisms of valvular remodeling is to derive novel surgical and medical therapies that can be used to treat patients earlier in the disease process. My current research projects include the following:

Understanding the extracellular matrix basis for the tissue mechanics of valves and other soft tissues, particularly with respect to proteoglycans
Identification, characterization, and mechanical/humoral/pharmaceutical control of valvular glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans
Biochemical, proteomic, biomechanical, and echocardiographic quantification of valvular remodeling in clinical congestive heart failure (a secondary valve disease) and myxomatous mitral valves (a primary valve disease)
Development of in vitro surrogates (via cell / organ culture and tissue engineering) and bioreactor systems to study disease and remodeling in valves and other soft tissues

Selected Publications

Abstract

Grande-Allen KJ "Elucidating the mechanical functions of versican, decorin, biglycan, and hyaluronan in heart valves (poster)." Proceedings of the Gordon Research Conference on Proteoglycans (2004).

Grande-Allen KJ "Fibrotic vs. myxomatous remodeling of mitral valves." Proceedings of the IEEE-Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Annual Meeting (2004): p. 382.

Grande-Allen KJ "Heart valves demonstrate loading-modulated phenotypes of extracellular matrix." Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology Annual Meeting (2004).

Borowski AG, Popovic ZB, Troughton RW, Yeager ML, Thomas JD, Griffin BP, Garcia MJ, Starling RC, McCarthy PM, Grande-Allen KJ "Impact of LVAD unloading on mitral valve function (poster)." Proceedings of the American Society of Echocardiography Annual Meeting (2004).

McKenney AS, Grande-Allen KJ "Phenotypic analysis of long term static organ culture of heart valves: collagen upregulation and cell migration." Proceedings of Advances in Tissue Engineering and Biology of Heart Valves Symposium, (2004).

Borowski AG, Popovic ZB, Sallach JA, Kassimatis K, Kamis S, Sigurdsson S, Grande-Allen KJ, McCarthy PM, Garcia M "Right ventricular function is preserved following left ventricular assist device insertion: a pump turndown study (poster)." Proceedings of the American Society of Echocardiography Annual Meeting (2004).

Grande-Allen KJ, Lawrence B, Gupta, V. "Tissue engineering tools for mechanical modulation of valvular extracellular matrix." Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Annual Meeting (2004).

Grande-Allen KJ "Loading-modulated phenotypes of extracellular matrix in normal and diseased heart valves." Proceedings of the European Society for Biomechanics (July, 2004).

Barzilla JE, Grande-Allen KJ "Can LVADs restore normal mitral valve mechanics in heart failure?." Submitted to the Society for Experimental Mechanics (2005).(Submitted)

Allison DD, Drazba J, Vesely I, Grande-Allen KJ "Localization of viability within valvular organ cultures." Proceedings of the 7th Annual Hilton Head Workshop on Engineering Tissues (Feb. 2003): p. 49.

Grande-Allen KJ "Mitral valve remodeling in end-stage heart failure." Proceedings of the Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology (2005).

Grande-Allen KJ "Mechanical modulation of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan production by valvular interstitial cells (poster)." Whitaker Foundation Annual Retreat Abstract Book (Aug, 2004).

Grande-Allen KJ "Overview of tissue engineered heart valves." Proceedings of the Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology (2005).

Peterson SB, Radovancevic B, Hernandez A, Radovancevic R, Droddy A, Carranza S, Stainback R, Bogaev RC, Gregoric I, Frazier OH "Diastolic dysfunction persists after unloading of the left ventricle by LVAD support." (April 2006).(Submitted)

Stephens EH, Timek TA, Daughters GT, Ingels NB, Miller DC, Grande-Allen KJ: Significant changes in mitral valve leaflet matrix composition and turnover with dilated cardiomyopathy. Proceeding of the AHA, New Orleans, LA, November 2008

Blevins TL, Grande-Allen KJ "Separation of valvular interstitial cell phenotypes in preparation for proteomic analysis." Proceedings of the Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology (2005).

Stephens EH, Shangkuan J, Carberry KE, Kearney DK, Fraser CD, Grande-Allen KJ: Phenotype of VICs from normal and pathological pediatric valves: implications for a tissue engineered heart valve. Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Meeting on Heart Valve Biology and Tissue Engineering, London UK, May 2008.

Grande-Allen KJ, Barber JE, Klatka KM, Vesely I, Moravec CS, McCarthy PM "Altered material properties of mitral leaflets and chordae in end-stage heart failure: mechanical evidence for dysfunctional remodeling." Circulation, 108(17 Suppl. 1) (2003): IV-368.

Grande-Allen KJ, Mako WJ, Calabro A, Ratliff NB, Vesely I "Explanted porcine bioprosthetic valves show disproportional losses of selective proteoglycans." Proceedings of the Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease (2003): p. 193.

Stephens EH, Nguyen TC, Itoh A, Miller DC, Grande-Allen KJ "Mitral leaflet remodeling: response to isolated mitral regurgitation." (Nov 2007).(Submitted)

Gupta V, Hascall VC, Wight TN, Ratliff NB, Griffin BP, Cosgrove DM, Vesely I, Grande-Allen KJ "Identification and localization of proteoglycans in normal and diseased valves and valvular cell cultures." Proceedings of the Biomedical Engineering Society (2003).

Grande-Allen KJ, Gupta V, Hascall VC, Wight TN, Ratliff NB, Griffin BP, Cosgrove DM, Vesely I "Identification and localization of proteoglycans in normal and diseased valves and valvular cell cultures." Proceedings of the Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease (2003): p. 70.

Grande-Allen KJ, Barber JE, Klatka KM, Vesely I, Moravec CS, McCarthy PM "Altered material properties of mitral leaflets and chordae in end-stage heart failure: mechanical evidence for dysfunctional remodeling." Proceedings of the Biomedical Engineering Society (2003).

Grande-Allen KJ, Barber JE, Klatka KM, Vesely I, Moravec CS, McCarthy PM "Altered material properties of mitral leaflets and chordae in end-stage heart failure: mechanical evidence for dysfunctional remodeling." Proceedings of the Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease (2003): p. 229.

Grande-Allen KJ, Borowski A, Troughton R, Houghtaling P, DiPaola N, Moravec CS, Vesely I, Griffin BP "Is mitral regurgitation in congestive heart failure truly functional? Evidence for significant biochemical changes in the valvular extracellular matrix." J Am Coll Cardiol, 41(6 suppl. A) (2003): 509A.

Grande-Allen KJ "Loading-modulated phenotypes of extracellular matrix: lessons from heart valves." Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Meeting on Biologically Inspired Materials (2003).

Allison DD, Drazba J, Vesely I, Grande-Allen KJ "Localization of viable cells within long-term heart valve organ cultures." Proceedings of the Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease (2003): p. 136.

Gupta V, Grande-Allen KJ "Proteoglycan detection in collagen gels seeded with mitral valve interstitial cells: relevance to myxomatous mitral valve disease." Society for Heart Valve Disease Biennial Meeting Abstract Book (June 2005): P.325.

Ferdous Z, Grande-Allen KJ "Role of decorin in engineering tissue mechanics." Proceedings of the Biomedical Engineering Society (September 2005).

Grande-Allen KJ, Borowski AG, Troughton RW, Yeager ML, Thomas JG, Garcia MJ, Griffin BP, Starling RC, McCarthy PM, Thomas JD "Persistent mitral regurgitation in turndown echo evaluations of LVAD patients." Proceedings of the Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease (2003): p. 222.

Borowski AG, Troughton RW, Yeager ML, Thomas JD, Garcia MJ, Griffin BP, Starling RC, McCarthy PM, Grande-Allen KJ "Persistent mitral regurgitation in turndown echo evaluations of LVAD patients." Proceedings of the Heart Failure Society of America Annual Meeting (2003).

Borowski AG, Troughton RW, Yeager ML, Thomas JD, Garcia MJ, Griffin BP, Starling RC, McCarthy PM, Grande-Allen KJ "Persistent mitral regurgitation in turndown echo evaluations of LVAD patients." The CCF 23rd Annual Research Day Abstract Book (2003).

Blevins TL, Raza A, Grande-Allen KJ "Phenotypic characterization of isolated heart valve cell subpopulations." Society for Heart Valve Disease Biennial Meeting Astract Book (June 2005): P. 218.

McKenney AS, Grande-Allen KJ "Collagen upregulation and cell migration in long term static organ culture of heart valves." Proceedings of the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting (2004).

Article

Blevins TL, Carroll J, Raza A "Phenotypic characterization of isolated valvular interstitial cell subpopulations." J Heart Valve Dis, 15(6): (2006): 815-22.

Gupta V "Effects of static vs. cyclic loading in regulating extracellular matrix synthesis by cardiovascular cells." Cardiovasc Res, 72(3) (2006): 375-383.

Ferdous Z, Peterson SB, Tseng H, Anderson DK, Iozzo RV, Grande-Allen KJ: A role for decorin in controlling proliferation, adhesion, and migration of murine embryonic fibroblasts. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, submitted, 2008.

Lafont AL, Tan FK, Tran-Fadulu V, Grande-Allen KJ, Estrera AL, Safi HJ, Geng YJ, Milewicz DM: Activation of ERK1/2 signaling and inactivation of GSK-3b in the aortic smooth muscle cells in patients with familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.

Allison DD, Grande-Allen KJ "Hyaluronan: a powerful tissue engineering tool." Tissue Engineering (2005).(In Press)

Book chapter

Grande-Allen KJ "Tissue engineering of heart valves." Biomedical Engineering Handbook, 3rd Edition (2004).(In Press)

"Tissue engineering of heart valves." Biomedical Engineering Handbook, 3rd Edition (2006): 57-1 – 57-19.

Book review

Barzilla JE, Blevins TL "Age-related structural changes in cardiac valves: implications for tissue engineered repairs." American Journal of Geriatric Cardiology, 15(5) (2006): 311-5.

Conference paper

Grande-Allen KJ, Vesely I, Hascall VC "Identification, localization, and function of proteoglycans in normal and diseased valves and valvular cell cultures." Proceedings of Hyaluronan 2003 (2003).

Barzilla JE, Grande-Allen KJ "Can LVADs restore normal mitral valve mechanics in heart failure?." Proceedings of the Scociety for Experimental Mechanics (June 2005): p. 113.

Stephens ES, Grande-Allen KJ "The porcine valve as a model for age-specific human heart valve disease: analysis of collagen turnover throughout development and aging.Proceedings of the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress." (2007).

Grande-Allen KJ, Lawrence BD, Gupta V "Tissue engineering tools for mechanical modulation of valvular extracellular matrix." Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics X International Congress & Exposition (2004).

Grande-Allen KJ "Fibrotic vs. myxomatous remodeling of mitral valves." Proceedings of the IEEE-EMBS Annual Meeting (2004).

Durst CA, Grande-Allen KJ: Design and development of an aortic valve culture system, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics, Orlando FL, June 2008.

Gheewala N, Grande-Allen KJ: Design of a pulsatile flow loop for sterile mitral heart valve organ culture. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics, Orlando, FL, June 2008

Barzilla JE, Grande-Allen KJ: Design of splashing bioreactor maintaining mitral valve structure in vitro. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics, Orlando, FL, June

Other

Stephens EH, Grande-Allen KJ "Role of matrix turnover in porcine valve development and aging. Proceedings of the Fourth Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease." (2007).

Stephens ES, Chu KC, Grande-Allen KJ "Age-related changes in the glycosaminoglycan composition of heart valves. Proceedings of the 4th Annual Symposium of the American Heart Association Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences." (2007).

Peterson SB, Ferdous Z, Hvvk M, Grande-Allen KJ "Decorin deficient cells demonstrate increased proliferation and altered phenotypic properties. Proceedings of the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference." (June).

Stephens ES, Carroll JC "Optimization of valvular interstitial cell isolation." J Heart Valve Dis (2006).(Submitted)

Gupta V, Werdenberg JA, Lawrence BD "Inducible and reversible glycosaminoglycan synthesis by repeatedly stretched and relaxed valvular interstitial cells in 3D culture." Cardiovasc Res (2006).(Submitted)

Allison DD "Hyaluronan:a powerful tissue engineering tool." Tissue Eng, 12(8) (2006): 2131-40.

McKenney AS "Collagen upregulation and cell migration in long term static organ culture of heart valves." J Heart Valve Dis (2006).(In Revision)

Brown EN, Peterson ML "Biological systems and materials: a review of the field of biomechanics and the role of the Society for Experimental Mechanics." Experimental Techniques, 30(2) (2006): 21-30.

Refereed Article

Gupta V, Lawrence BD, Grande-Allen KJ: Effect of cyclic mechanical strain on glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan synthesis by heart valve cells. Acta Biomaterialia, in press, 2008.

Allison DD, Wight TN, Ripp NJ, Braun KR, Grande-Allen KJ: Endogenous overexpression of hyaluronan synthases within dynamically cultured collagen gels: implications for vascular and valvular disease. Biomaterials, 29:29692976, 2008.

Stephens EH, Huynh TN, Cieluch JD, Grande-Allen KJ: Fibronectin-based isolation of valve interstitial cell subpopulations: relevance to valve disease. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, accepted, 2008.

Ferdous Z, Lazaro LD, Iozzo RV, Hvvk M, Grande-Allen KJ: Influence of cyclic strain and decorin deficiency on 3-D cellularized collagen matrices. Biomaterials, 29:2740-8, 2008.

**Gupta V, Werdenberg JA, Mendez JS, Grande-Allen KJ: Influence of strain on proteoglycan synthesis by valvular interstitial cells in 3D culture. Acta Biomaterialia, 4(1):88-96, 2008

Ofek G, Revell CM, Hu JC, Allison DD, Grande-Allen KJ, Athanasiou KA: Matrix development in self-assembly of articular cartilage. PLoS ONE, 3(7):e2795, 2008.

Blevins TL, Peterson SB, Lee EL, Bailey A, Frederick JD, Gupta V, Grande-Allen KJ: Mitral valvular interstitial cells demonstrate regional, adhesional, and synthetic heterogeneity. Cells Tissues Organs, 187(2):113-122, 2008.

Xu S, Grande-Allen KJ: Novel miniaturized collagen static tension tissue molds tested with cardiac aortic valve cells and decorin knocked-out fibroblasts, J Young Investigators, 8(4), 2008 [online].

Gupta V, Werdenberg JA, Lawrence BD, Stephens EH, Mendez JS, Grande-Allen KJ: Reversible secretion of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans by cyclically stretched valvular interstitial cells in 3D culture. Ann Biomed Eng, 36(7):1092-103, 2008.

Saraf A, Hacker MC, Sitharaman B, Grande-Allen KJ, Barry MA, Mikos AG: Synthesis and conformational evaluation of a novel gene delivery vector for human mesenchymal stem cells. Biomacromolecules, 9:818-827, 2008.

Stephens EH, Nguyen TC, Itoh A, Ingels Jr NB, Miller DC, Grande-Allen KJ: The effects of mitral regurgitation alone are sufficient for leaflet remodeling. Circulation 118;S243-S249, 2008

Stephens ES, Chu CK, Grande-Allen KJ: Valve proteoglycan content and glycosaminoglycan fine structure are unique to microstructure, mechanical loads, and age: relevance to an age-specific tissue engineered heart valve. Acta Biomaterialia, 4:1148-1160, 2008.

Setola V, Hufeisen SJ, Grande-Allen KJ, Vesely I, Glennon RA, Rothman RB, Roth BL "3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, (MDMA, Ecstasy) has fenfluramine-like proliferative actions on human cardiac valvular interstitial cells in vitro." Mol Pharmacol, 63(6) (2003): 1223-9.

Grande-Allen KJ, Griffin BP, Ratliff NB, Cosgrove DM, Vesely I "Glycosaminoglycan profiles of myxomatous mitral leaflets and chordae parallel the severity of mechanical alterations." J Am Coll Cardiol, 42(2) (2003): 271-7.

Grande-Allen KJ, Mako WJ, Calabro A, Ratliff NB, Vesely I "Loss of chondroitin 6-sulfate and hyaluronan from failed porcine bioprosthetic valves." J Biomed Mater Res, 65A(2) (2003): 251-259.

Grande-Allen KJ, Borowski A, Troughton R, Houghtaling P, DiPaola N, Moravec CS, Vesely I, Griffin BP "Apparently normal mitral valves in heart failure patients demonstrate biochemical and structural derangements: an extracellular matrix and echocardiographic study." J Am Coll Cardiol (2004).(In Press)

Grande-Allen KJ, Calabro A, Gupta V, Wight TN, Hascall VC, Vesely I "Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in normal mitral valve leaflets and chordae: association with regions of tensile and compressive loading." Glycobiology, 14(7) (2004): 621-633.

Allison DD, Drazba JA, Vesely I, Kader KN, Grande-Allen KJ "Mapping cell viability within long-term heart valve organ cultures.." J Heart Valve Dis, 13(2) (2004): 290-296.

Grande-Allen KJ, Borowski A, Troughton R, Houghtaling P, DiPaola N, Moravec CS, Vesely I, Griffin BP "Apparently normal mitral valves in heart failure patients demonstrate biochemical and structural derangements: an extracellular matrix and echocardiographic study." J Am Coll Cardiol, 45(1):54-61 (2005).

Popovic ZB, Martin M, Fukamachi K, Borowski A, Inoue M, Doi K, Kwan J, Qin JX, Shiota T, Grande-Allen KJ, McCarthy PM, Thomas JD "Mitral annulus size links ventricular dilatation to functional mitral regurgitation: a clinical and experimental study." in preparation (2005).

Grande-Allen KJ, Barber JE, Klatka KM, Vesely I, Moravec CS, McCarthy PM "Mitral valve stiffening in end-stage heart failure: evidence of an organic contribution to functional mitral regurgitation." J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 130(3):783-790 (2005).

McKenney AS, Grande-Allen KJ "Phenotypic cell and matrix remodeling in static organ culture of heart valves.." in preparation (2005).

Blevins TL, Raza A, Grande-Allen KJ "Separation of valvular interstitial cell phenotypes." in preparation (2005).

Stephens ES, Grande-Allen KJ "Age-related changes in collagen synthesis and turnover in porcine heart valves." J Heart Valve Dis (2007).(In Press)

Ferdous Z, Wei VM, Iozzo RV, Hvvk M, Grande-Allen KJ "Decorin-TGF-beta interaction regulates matrix organization and mechanical characteristics of 3-D collagen matrices." J Biol Chem (2007).(Submitted)

Gupta V, Lawrence BD, Grande-Allen KJ "Effect of cyclic mechanical strain and frequency on glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan synthesis by heart valve cells. Tissue Eng." (2007).(Submitted)

Grande-Allen KJ, Osman N, Ballinger ML, Dadlani H, Marasco S, Little PJ "Glycosaminoglycan synthesis and structure as targets for the prevention of calcific aortic valve disease." Cardiovasc Res, 76(1) (2007): 19-28.

Nistri S, Grande-Allen KJ, Noale M, Basso C, Maggi S, Thiene G "Relations between aortic elastic properties and aortic size in bicuspid aortic valves." Eur Heart J (2007).(Submitted)

Gupta V, Werdenberg J, Blevins TL, Grande-Allen KJ "Synthesis of glycosaminoglycans in differently loaded regions of collagen gels seeded with valvular interstitial cells." Tissue Eng, 13 (1) (2007): 41-49.

Allison DD, Braun KR, Vasco N, Wight TN, Grande-Allen KJ "The effect of endogenous overexpression of hyaluronan synthases on material, morphological and biochemical properties of uncrosslinked collagen biomaterials." Biomaterials (2007).(In Press)

Stephens ES, Carroll JL, Grande-Allen KJ "The use of collagenase III for the isolation of porcine aortic valvular interstitial cells: rationale and optimization." J Heart Valve Dis, 16 (2007): 175-183.

"The year in valvular heart disease." J Am Coll Cardiol, 49 (3) (2007): 361-374.

Ferdous Z., Grande-Allen KJ "Utility and control of proteoglycans in tissue engineering." Tissue Eng, 13(8) (2007): 1893-1904.

Gupta V, Barzilla JE, Mendez JS, Stephens EH, Lee EL, Collard CD, Laucirica R, Weigel PH, Grande-Allen KJ: Abundance and location of proteoglycans and hyaluronan within normal and myxomatous mitral valves. Cardiovasc Pathol, in press, 2008.

Hahn MS, Jao CW, Faquin W, Grande-Allen KJ: Analysis of glycosaminoglycan composition of the vocal fold lamina propria in relation to function. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 117(5):371-81, 2008.

Nistri S, Grande-Allen KJ, Noale M, Basso C, Maggi S, Thiene G: Aortic elasticity and size in bicuspid aortic valve syndrome, Eur Heart J, 29(4):472-9, 2008.

Allison DD, Braun KR, Wight TN, Grande-Allen KJ: Differential effects of exogenous and endogenous hyaluronan on contraction and strength of collagen gels. Acta Biomaterialia, accepted, 2008.

Refereed Conference Paper

Stephens EH, Blazejewski JG, Nguyen TC, Miller DC, Grande-Allen KJ "Ovine valvular changes after experimental mitral valve regurgitation. Proceedings of the Fourth Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease." (2007).

Allison DD, Wight TN, Grande-Allen KJ "The role of HA in soft tissue mechanics." Proceedings of Hyaluronan 2007 (2007).

Peterson SB, Radovancevic B, Hernandez A,

Presentations

Conference Committee Member

"Track 1: Mechanical and Microstructural Analyses of Biological Systems and Materials.".

"Glycosaminoglycans synthesis in uniaxial vs. biaxial regions of collagen gels." Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology, Houston TX. (February 2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg JA.

Invited Talk

"The role of proteoglycans in the mechanics and structure of heart valves." Rice University Biophysics Group, Houston, TX. (January 2005)

"Valvular heart disease: bioengineering from bench to bedside." Sigma Xi Houston Chapter, Houston, TX. (2004)

"Bioengineering analysis of heart valve disease." University of Houston Biomedical Engineering Program, Houston, TX. (March 2005)

"Loading-modulated phenotypes of extracellular matrix in normal and diseased heart valves." European Society for Biomechanics, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. (2004)

"Bioengineering analysis of heart valve disease." Texas Heart Institute Cardiology Grand Rounds, Houston TX. (April 2005)

"Elucidating the mechanical function of versican, decorin, biglycan and hyaluronan in heart valves." Gordon Research Conference on Proteoglycans, Andover, NH. (2004)

"Heart valves, glycosaminoglycans, and tissue engineering." University of Kentucky Center for Biomedical Engineering, Lexington KY. (2007)

"Bioengineering studies of heart valve disease." Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering IGERT Seminar Series, Houston, TX. (2004)

"Biomedical engineering, heart valves, and extracellular matrix mechanics." Department of Physics and Engineering, Murray State University, Murray KY. (October 2005)

"Heart valves, glycosaminoglycans, and tissue engineering." Technical University of Eindhoven Tissue Engineering Program, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. (2007)

"Bioengineering analysis of heart valve disease." Texas A&M University System Health Science Center / Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, TX. (2004)

"Tissue engineered valves." INDO-US Workshop on Cardiovascular Prosthetic Devices: In Vitro Studies to Clinical Implantation, Trivandrum, India. (2007)

"Bioengineering analysis of heart valve disease." Texas Heart Institute Cardiology Grand Rounds, Houston, TX. (2005)

"Valvular heart disease: bioengineering from bench to bedside." Methodist DeBakey Heart Center Research Conference, Houston TX. (2007)

"Cellular and molecular analysis of mitral valve proteoglycans." Department of Anesthesiology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH. (January 2003)

"Heart valves, cells, and gels." Rice Alumni College, Dallas, TX. (November, 2005)

"Tissue engineering, heart valves, and proteoglycans." Brown Medical School Cardiology Grand Rounds, Providence RI. (November 2006)

"Valvular heart disease: bioengineering from bench to bedside." Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX. (March 2003)

"Tissue engineering models for proteoglycan biomechanics." Brown University Biomedical Engineering Seminar, Providence RI. (November 2006)

"Valvular heart disease: bioengineering from bench to bedside." Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. (April 2003)

"Altered material properties of mitral leaflets and chordae in end-stage heart failure: mechanical evidence for dysfunctional remodeling." Biomedical Engineering Society, Nashville, TN. (October, 2003) With Barber JE, Klatka KM, Vesely I, Moravec CS, McCarthy PM.

"Tissue engineering approach to determine proteoglycan biomechanics." Texas A&M University Biomedical Engineering Seminar, College Station TX. (October 2006)

"Valvular heart disease: bioengineering from bench to bedside." Rice University Board of Trustees, Houston TX. (September 2006)

"Heart valves, glycosaminoglycans, and tissue engineering." Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering IGERT Seminar Series, Houston TX. (June 2006)

"Heart valves, glycosaminoglycans, and tissue engineering." Washington University in St. Louis Cell and Tissue Mechanics Seminar Series, St. Louis MO. (June 2006)

"Tissue engineering tools for analyzing glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan biomechanics." Baylor College of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program Seminar Series, Houston TX. (April 2006)

"Tissue engineering tools for analyzing glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan biomechanics." University of South Florida, Tampa FL. (January 2006)

Other

"An in vitro model for myxomatous mitral valve disease." Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology, Houston TX. (February 2006) With Allison DD, Wight TN.

"Glycosaminoglycans synthesis in uniaxial vs. biaxial regions of collagen gels." Hilton Head, SC. (March 2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg JA.

"Can LVADs restore normal mitral valve mechanics in heart failure." Society for Experimental Mechanics, Portland OR. (June 2005) With Barzilla JE.

"Tissue engineering tools for mechanical modulation of valvular extracellular matrix." Society for Experimental Mechanics Annual Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA. (2004) With Lawrence B, Gupta V.

"Role of decorin in engineered tissue mechanics." Biomedical Engineering Society, Baltimore MD. (September 2005) With Ferdous Z.

"Spectrum of extracellular matrix proteins, precursors, and turnover in fetal through aged porcine heart valves." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston TX. (February 2007) With Stephens ES, Smith AA.

"Hyaluronan: a molecular basis for altered tissue mechanics?." Biomedical Engineering Society, Chicago IL,. (October, 2006) With Allison DD, Wight TN.

"Optimization of valvular interstitial cell isolation for investigations of valvular biology and tissue engineering." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston TX. (February 2007) With Stephens ES, Carroll JC.

"Separation of valvular interstitial cell phenotypes in preparation for proteomic analysis." Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology Annual Meeting, Houston TX. (February 2005) With Blevins TL.

"Can LVADs restore normal mitral valve composition in heart failure?." Biomedical Engineering Society, Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Barzilla JE.

"Overview of tissue engineered heart valves." HSEMB Annual Meeting, Houston TX. (February 2005)

"Contribution of TGF-beta to cell proliferation, matrix organization and tissue mechanics in decorin deficient collagen gels." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston TX. (February 2007) With Ferdous Z, Hook M.

"Design of a pseudo-physiologic aortic valve culture system.." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston, TX. (February 2008) With Durst CD, Grande-Allen KJ.

"Fibrotic vs. myxomatous remodeling of mitral valves." The IEEE-Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Annual Meeting, San Francicso, CA. (2004)

"Inducible and reversible GAG and PG synthesis by cyclically stretched valvular cells in 3D culture." Biomedical Engineering Society, Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg JA,.

"Mitral valve remodeling in end-stage heart failure." Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology Annual Meeting, Houston TX. (February 2005)

"Phenotypic analysis of long term static organ culture of heart valves: collagen upregulation and cell migration." Advances in Tissue Engineering and Biology of Heart Valves Symposium, Florence, Italy. (2004) With McKenney AS.

"Physiological flow loop for mitral valve ex vivo organ culture." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston TX. (February 2007) With Gheewala N.

"Unique protein expression profiles in normal and pathological pediatric valves: implications for a tissue engineered heart valve,." Proceedings of the Current Trends in Cardiothoracic Surgery Conference, Houston, TX. (May 2008) With Stephens EH, Huynh TN, Cieluch JD, Grande-Allen KJ.

"Collagen upregulation and cell migration in long term static organ culture of heart valves." Biomedical Engineering Society, Philadelphia, PA. (2004) With McKenney AS.

"Decorin-TGF beta interplay in cell growth and contraction of collagen constructs." Biomedical Engineering Society, Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Ferdous Z, Höök.

"Effects of LVAD support on human failing hearts and valves." Proceedings of the HSEMB, ,, Houston TX. (February 2007) With Peterson SB, Barzilla JE, Radovancevic B, Hernandez A, Radovancevic R, Droddy A.

"Heart valves demonstrate loading-modulated phenotypes of extracellular matrix." Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology Annual Meeting, Houston, TX. (2004)

"Localization of proteoglycans within normal and myxomatous mitral valves." John Carroll University 3rd Annual Celebration of Science, University Heights, OH. (2004) With Olshavsky NA.

"Ovine myocardial and valvular changes after experimental mitral valve regurgitation." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston TX. (February 2007) With Blazejewski JG, Nguyen TC, Miller DC.

"Extracellular matrix biomechanics considerations for tissue engineering." Advances in Tissue Engineering Short Course, Houston, TX. (2004)

"Protein-based fibers, ropes, films, sheets, and baskets." Proceedings of the Texas Protein Folders Meeting, Navasota TX. (March 2007) With Bondos SE, Greer AM, Huang Z, Xu S, Matthews KS.

"Remodeling in an ovine mitral valve regurgitation model." Proceedings of the BMES, Los Angeles CA. (September 2007) With Stephens ES, Nguyen TC, Miller DC.

"Glycosaminoglycans synthesis in uniaxial vs. biaxial regions of collagen gels." Hilton Head SC. (March 2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg JA.

"An in vitro model for myxomatous mitral valve disease.". (2006) With Allison DD, Wight TN.

"Glycosaminoglycans synthesis in uniaxial vs. biaxial regions of collagen gels.". (2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg JA.

"Decorin-TGF beta interplay in cell growth and contraction of collagen constructs." Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Ferdous Z, Höök M.

"Inducible and reversible GAG and PG synthesis by cyclically stretched valvular cells in 3D culture." Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg JA.

"Can LVADs restore normal mitral valve composition in heart failure?." Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Barzilla JE.

"Hyaluronan: a molecular basis for altered tissue mechanics?." Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Allison DD, Wight TN.

"Persistent mitral regurgitation in turndown echo evaluations of LVAD patients." Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease, Paris, France. (June 2003) With Borowski AG, Troughton RW, Yeager ML, Thomas JG, Garcia MJ, Griffin BP, Starling RC, McCarthy PM, Thomas JD.

"Altered material properties of mitral leaflets and chordae in end-stage heart failure: mechanical evidence for dysfunctional remodeling." Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease, Paris, France. (June 2003) With Barber JE, Klatka KM, Vesely I, Moravec CS, McCarthy PM.

"Identification and localization of proteoglycans in normal and diseased valves and valvular cell cultures." Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease, Paris, France. (June 2003) With Gupta V, Hascall VC, Wight TN, Ratliff NB, Griffin BP, Cosgrove DM, Vesely I.

"Loading-modulated phenotypes of extracellular matrix: lessons from heart valves." Society for Experimental Mechanics Meeting on Biologically Inspired Materials, Springfield, MA. (October 2003)

"Altered material properties of mitral leaflets and chordae in end-stage heart failure: mechanical evidence for dysfunctional remodeling." American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2003, Orlando, FL. (November 2003) With Barber JE, Klatka KM, Vesely I, Moravec CS, McCarthy PM.

"Mitral valve remodeling and response with LVAD support in patients with heart failure." Imaging Research Rounds, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH. (March 2003) With Borowski AG.

"Bioengineering and tissue engineering tools for studying remodeling in normal and diseased heart valves." Rice Alliance 3rd Annual Biotechnology / Life Sciences Technology Innovation Forum, Houston, TX. (2003)

Poster

"Organ culture of the mitral valve using a splashing bioreactor.." Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Meeting on Heart Valve Biology and Tissue Engineering, London UK. (May 2008) With Barzilla JE, Cowan A.

"Mitral valve exposure to serotonergic agents.." Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Meeting on Heart Valve Biology and Tissue Engineering, London UK. (May 2008) With Barzilla JE, Roth BL.

"Age-related differences in valve interstitial cell phenotype: implications for tissue-engineered heart valves.." Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Meeting on Heart Valve Biology and Tissue Engineering, London UK. (May 2008) With Stephens EH, Shangkuan J.

"Role of decorin in engineered tissue mechanics." Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology, Houston TX. (February 2006) With Ferdous Z.

"Utilization of fibronectin for the isolation of specific valve cell subpopulations: application for the study of mitral valve diseases.." Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Meeting on Heart Valve Biology and Tissue Engineering, London UK. (May 2008) With Stephens EH, Huynh TN, Cieluch J.

"An in vitro model for myxomatous mitral valve disease." Hilton Head, SC. (March 2006) With Allison DD, Wight TN.

"Phenotype of VICs from normal and pathological pediatric valves: implications for a tissue engineered heart valve.." Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Meeting on Heart Valve Biology and Tissue Engineering, London UK. (May 2008) With Stephens EH, Shangkuan J, Carberry KE, Kearney DK, Fraser CD.

"Heterogeneous mitral annular segment motion correlates with matrix turnover and valve cell activation.." Proceedings of the BMES,, St Louis, MO. (September 2008) With Stephens EH, Timek TA, Daughters GT, Ingels NB, Miller DC.

"Proteoglycan detection in collagen gels seeded with mitral valve interstitial cells: relevance to myxomatous mitral valve disease." Society for Heart Valve Biennial Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. (June 2005) With Gupta V.

"Regional heterogeneity of porcine mitral valve interstitial cells." Hilton Head, SC. (March 2006) With Blevins TL, Bailey A, Lee EL, Gupta V.

"Harnessing proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans in tissue engineering." Boston MA. (July 2006) With Gupta V, Ferdous Z, Allison DD.

"Phenotypic characterization of isolated heart valve cell subpopulations." Society for Heart Valve Disease Biennial meeting, Vancouver, Canada. (June 2005) With Blevins TL, Raza A.

"Understanding global sequence complexity of glycosaminoglycans: a tandem enzyme digestion approach." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston TX. (February 2007) With Srinivas VR.

"Validation of a novel splashing bioreactor for use in mitral valve organ culture.." Proceedings of the BMES, St Louis, MO. (September 2008) With Barzilla JE, Cowan A.

"Impact of LVAD unloading on mitral valve function." American Society of Echocardiography Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. (2004) With Borowski AG, Popovic ZB, Troughton RW, Yeager ML, Thomas JD, Griffin BP, Garcia MJ, Starling RC, McCarthy PM.

"LVAD effect on mitral valve cellularity and glycosaminoglycan content.." Proceedings of the BMES,, St Louis, MO. (September 2008) With Barzilla JE.

"Tension-induced synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in mitral valve tissue surrogates." Gordon Research Conference on Proteoglycans, Andover NH,. (July 2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg J.

"Mitral valve cell proliferation due to serotonergic drug exposure.." Proceedings of the BMES, St Louis, MO. (September 2008) With Barzilla JE.

"Right ventricular function is preserved following left ventricular assist device insertion: a pump turndown study." American Society of Echocardiography Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. (2004) With Borowski AG, Popovic ZB, Sallach JA, Kassimatis K, Kamis S, Sigurdsson S, Grande-Allen KJ, McCarthy PM, Garcia M.

"Changes in extracellular matrix production by valvular interstitial cells with aging.." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston TX. (February 2007) With Stephens ES, Mendenhall M.

"Characterizing tandem enzyme digestion approach for glycosaminoglycan degradation.." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston, TX. (February 2008) With Srinivas VR, Grande-Allen KJ:.

"Explaining proteoglycans to undergraduates: a senior elective in extracellular matrix." Gordon Research Conference on Proteoglycans, Andover, NH. (2004)

"Cellularity of aortic valves from failed hearts." Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium, Houston TX. (April 2005) With Maniar S.

"Glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan synthesis in uniaxial vs. biaxial regions of collagen gels." Biomedical Engineering Society, Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg JA.

"Strategies for valvular endothelial cell isolation and phenotyping.." Proceedings of the HSEMB, Houston, TX. (February 2008) With Saltarrelli JG, Grande-Allen KJ.

"The effect of passive left ventricular restraint on mitral valve leaflet remodeling following myocardial infraction." Houston TX. (February 2007) With Sen P, Nguyen TC, Blazejewski J, Cheng A, Ingels NB, Miller DC.

"Wound healing in ovine mitral valves involve significant leaflet remodeling.." Proceedings of the Current Trends in Cardiothoracic Surgery Conference, Houston, TX. (May 2008) With Stephens EH, Nguyen TC, Blazejewski JG, Itoh A, Ingels NB Jr., Miller DC, Grande-Allen KJ:.

"Evaluation of reverse remodeling of the mitral valve in hearts supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVADs)." American Heart Association Research Symposium, Dallas, TX. (November, 2005) With Borowski AG, Barzilla JE, Peterson SB.

"Mechanical modulation of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan production by valvular interstitial cells." Whitaker Foundation Annual Retreat, La Jolla, CA. (2004)

"TGF Beta enhances gel contraction in decorin deficient engineered tissues." Proceedings of the BMES, Los Angeles CA. (September 2007) With Ferdous Z, Hook, M.

"Deficiency and restoration of decorin in engineered tissues modulates material strength and modulus." Proceedings of the BMES, Los Angeles CA. (September 2007) With Ferdous Z, Wei VM, Hook, M.

"Age-specific glycosaminoglycan composition for tissue-engineered heart valves." Proceedings of the BMES, Los Angeles CA. (September 2007) With Stephens ES, Chu CK.

"Regional heterogeneity of porcine mitral valve interstitial cells." Hilton Head SC. (March 2006) With Blevins TL, Bailey A, Lee EL, Gupta V.

"An in vitro model for myxomatous mitral valve disease." Hilton Head SC. (March 2006) With Allison DD, Wight TN.

"Role of decorin in engineered tissue mechanics.". (2006) With Ferdous Z.

"Glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan synthesis in uniaxial vs. biaxial regions of collagen gels." Chicago IL. (October 2006) With Gupta V, Werdenberg JA.

"Localization of viability within valvular organ cultures." 7th Annual Hilton Head Workshop on Engineering Tissues, Hilton Head Island, SC. (February-March 2003) With Allison DD, Drazba J, Vesely I.

"Localization of viability within valvular organ cultures." Engineering Tissue Growth Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. (March 2003) With Allison DD, Drazba J, Vesely I.

"Is mitral regurgitation in congestive heart failure truly functional? Evidence for significant biochemical changes in the valvular extracellular matrix." The American College of Cardiology 52nd Annual Scientific Session, Chicago, IL. (March 2003) With Borowski A, Troughton R, Houghtaling P, DiPaola N, Moravec CS, Vesely I, Griffin BP.

"Localization of viable cells within long-term heart valve organ cultures." Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease, Paris, France. (June 2003) With Allison DD, Drazba J, Vesely I,.

"Explanted porcine bioprosthetic valves show disproportional losses of selective proteoglycans.." Second Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease, Paris. (June 2003) With Mako WJ, Calabro A, Ratliff NB, Vesely I.

"Persistent mitral regurgitation in turndown echo evaluations of LVAD patients." Heart Failure Society of America Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV. (September 2003) With Borowski AG, Troughton RW, Yeager ML, Thomas JD, Garcia MJ, Griffin BP, Starling RC, McCarthy PM.

"Identification and localization of proteoglycans in normal and diseased valves and valvular cell cultures." Biomedical Engineering Society, Nashville, TN. (October 2003) With Gupta V, Hascall VC, Wight TN, Ratliff NB, Griffin BP, Cosgrove DM, Vesely I.

"Identification, localization, and function of proteoglycans in normal and diseased valves and valvular cell cultures." Hyaluronan 2003, Cleveland, OH. (October 2003) With Vesely I, Hascall VC.

"Persistent mitral regurgitation in turndown echo evaluations of LVAD patients." The Cleveland Clinic Foundation 23rd Annual Research Day, Cleveland, OH. (November 2003) With Borowski AG, Troughton RW, Yeager ML, Thomas JD, Garcia MJ, Griffin BP, Starling RC, McCarthy PM.

Session Chair

"Heart Valves 2.".

Workshop

"Tissue engineering of heart valves." Advances in Tissue Engineering, Houston, TX. (August 2005)

Editorial Positions

Other, Journal of Heart Valve Disease, (2003).

Other, Circulation, (2004).

Other, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, (2004).

Other, Journal of Heart Valve Disease, (2004).

Other, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, (2004).

Other, American Journal of Hypertension, (2005).

Other, Anatomical Record, (2005).

Other, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, (2005).

Other, Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, (2005).

Other, Experimental Techniques, (2005).

Other, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, (2004).

Other, Experimental Mechanics, (2004).

Other, Journal of Biomechanics, (2004).

Other, Tissue engineering, (2004).

Theses

Vishal Gupta, Doctoral. "Mechanical modulation of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan production by valvular interstitial cells." (2002).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Lakeshia Taite, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation." (2003).(Committee Member)

Solitaire DeLong, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation." (2003).(Committee Member)

Janet Barzilla, Doctoral. "Matrix and mechanics of heart valves in congestive heart failure." (2003).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Adam AufderHeide, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation." (2003).(Committee Member)

, Masters. "Masters Dissertation (External Evaluator)." (2004).(Committee Member)

Beth Ray, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation, Biochemistry and Cell Biology." (2004).(Committee Member)

Jeff Triffo, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation, Bioengineering." (2004).(Committee Member)

Brandon Bucklen, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation, Bioengineering." (2004).(Committee Member)

Zarana Patel, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation, Bioengineering." (2004).(Committee Member)

Lakeshia Taite, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation, Bioengineering." (2004).(Committee Member)

Adam AufderHeide, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation, Bioengineering." (2004).(Committee Member)

Solitaire DeLong, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation, Bioengineering." (2004).(Committee Member)

Greg Bowden, Doctoral. "Improvement of biomineralization, matrix, and osteogenic development using a dynamic flow bioreactor." (2004).(Co-Director)

Vishal Gupta, Doctoral. "Mechanical modulation of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan production by valvular interstitial cells." (2004).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Janet Barzilla, Doctoral. "Matrix and mechanics of heart valves in congestive heart failure." (2004).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Zannatul Ferdous, Doctoral. "Small leucine-rich proteoglycan contributions to matrix mechanics." (2004).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

David Allison, Doctoral. "Hyaluronan contributions to matrix mechanics." (2004).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Nikhil Gheewala, Doctoral. "Physiological flow loop bioreactor for mitral valves." (2004).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

James Moon, Doctoral. "PhD. Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

Sergey Paramonov, Doctoral. "Ph.D. Dissertation Chemistry." (2005).(Committee Member)

Quynh Pham, Doctoral. "PhD. Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

Sheila Moore, Doctoral. "PhD. Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

April Smith, Doctoral. "PhD. Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

Adam AufderHeide, Doctoral. "Phd. Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

Lakeshia Taite, Doctoral. "PhD. Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

Beth Ray, Doctoral. "Ph.D Dissertation Biochemistry and Cell Biology." (2005).(Committee Member)

Jeff Triffo, Doctoral. "Ph.D Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

Brandon Bucklen, Doctoral. "Ph.D Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

Zarana Patel, Doctoral. "PhD. Dissertation Bioengineering." (2005).(Committee Member)

Vishal Gupta, M.S. "Bioengineering, Rice University, Mechanical modulation of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan production by valvular interstitial cells." (2007).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Grants and Proposals

Identifying and recapitulating the pediatric heart valve cell phenotype in 2D and 3D culture: towards tissue engineering an autologous pediatric heart valve replacement, March of Dimes Research Program.

Molecular Surgeon Research Training on Vascular Disease, NIH NHLBI T32.