Matters of the Heart -- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awarded Dr. Bin Zhou a $1.6 million, four-year grant for his study of the mechanisms underlying coronary ostium formation and coronary artery patterning. Coronary ostia are openings on the aorta through which blood is circulated via the coronary arteries, supplying the heart with oxygen and other nutrients. Dr. Zhou will examine the roles of two proteins, Vegfr-2 and Nfatc-1, in regulating the connection between the coronary arteries and the aorta, as well as in coronary artery development. The results from this research could help our understanding of the cause behind congenital heart defects. Dr. Zhou is associate professor of genetics, of pediatrics and of medicine.
Posted on: Thursday, August 22, 2013