Academic Background Conjunctival Melanoma (COM) is a rare but potentially lethal ocular cancer, particularly when metastasis occurs, with limited treatment options. Although current treatments for primary conjunctival melanoma are relatively effective, once metastasis occurs, patient survival rates drop significantly, with most patients surviving l...

Academic Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of central vision loss among the elderly, particularly in its neovascular (NV) form, where choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leads to rapid and severe vision loss. Current AMD treatments primarily rely on intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (...

ALK1/Endoglin Signaling Restricts Vein Cell Size Increases in Response to Hemodynamic Cues Academic Background The normal development and function of the vascular system rely on precise regulation of blood vessel diameter. Hemodynamic cues, such as fluid shear stress (FSS), are considered critical factors in regulating vessel diameter. According to...

Academic Background and Problem Statement Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) are benign vascular anomalies prone to pain, bleeding, and progressive growth. The primary cause of AVMs is somatic mutations in the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway. However, not all patients have identifiable causative mutations. To further explore the pathogenesis of AVMs, re...

Site-Specific Genetic and Functional Signatures of Aortic Endothelial Cells at Aneurysm Predilection Sites in Healthy and AngII ApoE−/− Mice Academic Background Aortic aneurysm (AA) is characterized by pathological dilation at specific predilection sites of the vessel, potentially leading to life-threatening vascular rupture. Aortic aneurysms typic...

Academic Background The formation and maintenance of vascular networks are critical processes in embryonic development and tissue regeneration, involving the regulation of various biophysical forces. Endothelial cells (ECs) play a central role in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, with the contractile forces of the cytoskeleton (actomyosin contractil...

Academic Background The placenta plays a critical role in health and disease during pregnancy, and its development and function directly impact pregnancy outcomes. The early development of the utero-placental vasculature is essential for ensuring normal placental function, while abnormal vascular development is closely associated with placenta-rela...

Academic Background and Problem Statement Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a common retinal neurovascular disorder in premature infants, primarily occurring in those whose retinal vascular development is incomplete. Due to exposure to a relatively hyperoxic environment after birth, especially with supplemental oxygen therapy, hyperoxia suppresse...

Research Background Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein. Recent studies have increasingly highlighted the role of cerebrovascular alterations in the pathogenesis of AD. Specifically, endothelial cell damage and inflam...

Report on the Study of Inflammasome Activation Aggravating Choroidal Neovascularization Academic Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common retinal disease, particularly among the elderly. AMD is divided into dry and wet types, with wet AMD characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), where abnormal blood vessels grow fro...