Education
BS, Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2019
PhD Student, Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2021 - Present
Research Interests
Blood clotting, Hemostatis, Thrombosis, Fibrin, Fibrinolysis, Cancer, Mathematical Modeling.
Research Summary
Diseases and illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and COVID-19 infection can lead to a prothrombotic environment, resulting in excessive blood clotting and risk of heart attacks and strokes. My goal is to look at how the blood clot microenvironment influences the propensity for clot formation and enzymatic stability of blood clots. More specifically, my research concentrates cancer-mediated thrombosis by altering the microenvironment to mimic that of a cancer patient. Our lab utilizes a combination of modeling simulations and experimental validation to allow us to manipulate a physiologically relevant, yet simplified, blood clot structure to identify underlying mechanisms of resistance to degradation. We use a variety of experimental techniques, such as turbidity, dynamic light scattering, confocal microscopy, and rheometry, to analyze the structural and biochemical properties of blood clots during the formation and lysis process. These methods have allowed us to delve into the fibrin structure to better understand the limitations of tissue plasminogen activator. Our findings will identify predictive factors to improve screening, determine appropriate treatment regimen, and optimize therapeutic drugs.