Short description of the group/project/topic of research
Modelling and correcting vascular malformations is a critical area of research and clinical practice focused on understanding and treating abnormal blood vessel formations. Vascular malformations—including arteriovenous, venous, and lymphatic malformations—frequently result from somatic genetic mutations that cause errors in vascular development, leading to significant morbidity. We aim to accurately model some of these conditions using advanced genetic technologies, imaging techniques, and in vivo models to replicate complex vascular networks and their pathological changes. These new models will help decipher the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms that drive the growth and pathogenesis of vascular malformations. Current strategies often combine invasive procedures such as embolization, sclerotherapy, and laser therapy with surgical interventions. As we better understand how these mutations alter cell signaling and biology, emerging therapies focus on targeted molecular treatments aimed at normalizing the aberrant signaling pathways responsible for vascular anomalies. Continued research into the pathophysiological mechanisms and pharmacological treatment responses of vascular malformations will enhance therapeutic precision. This project will allow us to understand how mutations in certain genes lead to the development of vascular malformations in humans.
Link to PI’s webpage
https://www.mpi-muenster.mpg.de/779962/projects