Specific research projects

Characterization of Endothelial Cilia Distribution During Cerebral-Vascular Development in Zebrafish

We have identified a micro-tubule-based structure, cilia in brain ECs of the developing Zebrafish. Using high-resolution image of the transgenic fish line where endothelial cells, and cilia; cilia were found in ECs prior to flow, which was not described before.

Angioblast development in vertebrates

Endothelial precursor cells, also known as angioblasts, are specified from lateral mesoderm cells in the developing vertebrate embryo. The intermediate steps necessary for the angioblast to form arteries and veins are not clear. The Ramchandran laboratory studies the signals and processes involved in the different steps of angioblast development in a developing embryo using a variety of cell biology, genetic and molecular approaches.

Role of axon guidance genes in vascular development

Vessels and nerves are branching networks that often lay side by side in a developing embryo. Mechanisms governing branching morphogenesis are shared both at the cell surface and the intracellular levels in endothelial cells and axons respectively. The Ramchandran lab is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that guide an endothelial cell to its target using clues from the axon guidance system. We study one member of the axon guidance family, roundabout4 (robo4), and its role in this process.

Translational disease models and drug discovery

Vessel growth is tightly regulated during development. Any imbalance in this regulation often is associated with disease. For example, tumor growth is dependent on neo-vessel growth or angiogenesis. The Ramchandran laboratory is developing disease models in fish using a variety of genetic and molecular approaches that will eventually be used for drug screening. We use computational small molecule and conventional screening approaches to target mutant protein vs. wild type protein in the vasculature. Using such approaches we have identified candidate small molecules against targets mutated in human vascular anomaly disease. The efficacy of some compounds is in the nanomolar range, which is being further developed as therapeutics.

In addition, the Ramchandran lab has taken a leading role in forming a drug discovery consortium in Southeastern Wisconsin that works toward a common goal of generating affordable therapeutics that will benefit the health of the local communities and beyond.

Cell surface receptors affecting endothelial migration

Angiogenesis, the formation of new vessels from a preexisting network, depends proper mobilization of blood endothelial cells. Our lab uses a combination of molecular genetics and cell biology approaches to study cell-surface control of endothelial cell motility. In one project, we study the impact of endothelial ephrin-B2 in lung alveolar development. The abnormal lung development of mice expressing mutant ephrin-B2 provides an opportunity to investigate the phenomenon of alveolar initiation from a cell and developmental biology point of view. In a second project, we are evaluating a poorly understood novel cell-surface protein ECSCR, which is selectively expressed in endothelial cells and influences endothelial migration and proliferation.