What if we could harness the body’s own immune system to repair damaged blood vessels? This idea lies at the heart of my research. Namely, helping the body rebuild its own vessels using smart materials and the power of the immune system. Every year millions of people worldwide are affected by cardiovascular diseases. For many patients, this means surgery to replace blocked or damaged blood vessels. However, current replacements, especially for small diameter vessels, come with a variety of potential complications such as infections, inflammation and failure over time. To address this issue, my research focuses on a new and promising approach.
To better understand this process, scientists have traditionally focused on how “first-responder” immune cells such as macrophages react to these smart implants, I am investigating the role of T lymphocytes, or simply T cells. These cells act like the “generals” of the immune system. Given their important role, one of my goals is to understand how they communicate with other cells to drive the process of blood vessel regeneration. By deciphering this conversation and identifying key processes, we can design materials that will guide the body to heal itself.
This research project is part of a larger effort within the DRIVE-RM consortium to develop regenerative therapies by understanding how the body heals under challenging conditions. By learning how to control immune responses through material design, we are moving from simply “patching” a patient to creating implants that actively promote healing. More specifically, I am looking for ways to flip the “switch” from inflammation to tissue regeneration. This knowledge is crucial for creating a new generation of “off-the-shelf” cardiovascular implants.
Given the scope of this project, this puzzle is too big for one lab, so collaboration is essential. I work closely with experts in material sciences at the TUe who design and produce the biomaterials, as well as clinicians and biologists who help translate our findings into real-world applications. These partnerships provide opportunities to test ideas that would not be possible withing a single field.
Probably the most exciting part of this project is the idea that we can “talk” to the immune system using these materials. Instead of suppressing or fighting immune system, we can instead guide it to become a powerful tool for healing. This reflects a major shift in how we think about medicine. It’s not about just fixing what’s broken but enabling the body to rebuild itself.
My research unlocks (or ‘aims to) the secret language between T-cells and materials, enabling us to transform synthetic implants into living, self-healing blood vessels that can last a lifetime
