Cynthia St. Hilaire, PhD

Conceptual Schematic

THE THREE MOST SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS THAT DEFINE YOUR RESEARCH PROGRAM:
What is the molecular mechanism by which lack of adenosine receptor signaling results in a pro-calcific phenotype, and are these pathways applicable to calcification seen in more common diseases?

What roles do mechanical & shear stresses play in the release of extracellular nucleotides, and how does downstream adenosine signaling modulate homeostasis in under these stresses?

What mechanisms allow a vascular smooth muscle cell loose contractility and gain a proliferative/remodeling phenotype?

FIVE KEYWORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR AREAS OF INTEREST:
Vascular calcification • Vessel wall remodeling • Extracellular nucleotidases • Adenosine receptor signaling • Vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells

TECHNIQUES, MODELS, METHODS, ANALYTIC APPROACHES, ETC:
Primary human cell culture & murine models of disease
Gene expression and biochemical protein analysis
Histopathology and microscopy
Patient-specific iPSCs for disease modeling & mechanistic studies
Biobank of healthy and diseased human vascular & valvular tissue