Research in the Hutcheson Cardiovascular Matrix Remodeling Lab (CMRL) focuses on the mechanisms through which tissues are built and maintained and the pathological changes that lead to disease. Our primary focus is on cardiovascular disease–the leading global cause of death. Our research combines advanced imaging, materials science, biomechanics, and molecular biology to connect cellular processes to tissue function. By understanding the ways that cells sense and respond to each other and to changes in their environment, we can develop new ways to detect initiators of disease and find interventions that restore tissue to a normal state. Accomplishing these goals requires an interdisciplinary effort with researchers working at the interface between bioengineering and molecular biology.

Lab News

Aug. 9th

PhD Student Katherine Earns Wallace H. Coulter Fellowship

PhD student Katherine Keiser was awarded the Wallace H. Coulter Fellowship. This is a new fellowship initiative from the BME department that provides a $37,000 stipend funded by the Coulter endowment. Congrats KK on being chosen as the inaugural Wallace H. Coulter Fellow – we are beyond proud of you! 

Aug. 6-11th

Dr. Hutcheson Presents at a Gordon Research Conference

Our PI, Dr. Hutcheson, was invited to give a talk at the 2023 Gordon Research Conference on Biomechanics in Vascular Biology and Disease. This year’s conference took place in South Hadley, MA. His talk, titled “Cellular Heterogeneity in Aortic Valve Patterning”, focused the role different types of aortic valve cells may have on development and disease.

July 4th

PhD student Daniel Publishes a Current Opinion Article
PhD student Daniel Chaparro publishes an article on Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering journal. The piece, titled “Underreported cell populations in the aortic valve influence tissue development and homeostasis’, focuses on the type of cells found in the aortic valve. Congrats Dani!

Upcoming Events

2024 Heart Day Symposium

Please join us for our annual Heart Day Symposium on February 16th, 2024 at Parkview Hall (MMC). Please take a look at this year’s line up here. Hope to see you there!

Heart Valve Society Meeting

PI Joshua Hutcheson and PhD student Daniel Chaparro will attend this year’s Heart Valve Society meeting taking place in Boston from February 18th-21st. The are both helping organize sessions and awards for the co-joint ICTEHV/ISACB program. You can find more information of the meeting here