BMP signaling in vascular biology and disease. (W001420N)

 Within this multidisciplinary consortium, we aim to accelerate the unraveling of BMP-mediated mechanisms of EC heterogeneity and mechanotransduction to refine and improve etiology-based vascular repair strategies, a major challenge in curing vessel-related diseases. Our objectives are to:  i) increase critical mass in Flanders on BMP signaling and its interplay with mechanotransduction in vascular diseases and boost trans- and interdisciplinary collaborations within this consortium, to underscore faster commonalities and specificities of (impaired) BMP functions in different vascular beds and vessel (instability) diseases; ii) model and validate vessel repair strategies in our various physiopathological systems and translate results to a clinical setting; iii) create an “incubator” environment and solid basis for future successful funding applications (leverage); iv) expose and challenge each other’s work at an early stage to strengthen and increase research output and competitiveness; v) increase visibility of all the teams in Flanders and internationally, propel the junior talents in the teams and deliver high-quality trained PhDs/masters/bachelors.