How tissue structure and remodeling affect tissue health and aneurysm growth
Official title: Integrate Data-Driven Modeling and Multi-scale Measures Towards Tissue Function
Funded at Lehigh University · NIH-11194525 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses lab measurements and computer models to learn how differences in tissue structure change tissue strength and may drive aneurysm growth in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lehigh University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethlehem, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $284,739 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM157589-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194525 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with known aneurysms, vascular tissue weakness, or those willing to provide tissue samples or clinical imaging/data would be the most relevant candidates to contribute to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without tissue-structural problems or those needing immediate emergency intervention are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic and modeling-focused work.
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team will measure how cells and the surrounding matrix interact and change the mechanical properties of tissues. They will run lab experiments on cells and tissue samples, collect multi-scale measurements, and build computer models that combine physics-based rules with machine learning. The goal is to create a 'digital twin' that simulates how tissues remodel and degenerate over time and to link those changes to aneurysm growth. This work connects small-scale cell signaling and matrix changes to whole-tissue behavior to improve understanding of tissue failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict who is at greater risk for aneurysm growth and support more personalized monitoring or treatment planning.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory tissue mechanics tests and computational models have informed prior research, but integrating multi-scale experiments with data-driven 'digital twin' models for aneurysm prediction is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Yue — Lehigh University
- Study coordinator: Yu, Yue
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Integrating data-driven models to understand tissue function and degeneration
Aims to build a digital twin of human tissues to better understand how tissue heterogeneity and cell signaling affect growth, remodeling, and the risk of aneurysm-related tissue degeneration.
-
Computational tools to study how biological molecules interact
A project to create and improve software that helps scientists model and predict how biological molecules bind and work together in living systems, with a focus on tools used by many researchers.
-
Selective vulnerability of dopamine neurons in fruit flies
Researchers are studying why certain dopamine-producing brain cells in fruit flies are more likely to fail in neurodegenerative conditions, with the goal of informing protective strategies for people.
-
Nuclear Envelope Dynamics in Meiotic Quality Control
A researcher at Lehigh University is exploring how eggs and sperm maintain quality during meiosis in a worm model to prevent chromosome errors that can cause birth defects.
-
Pennsylvania asthma-COPD syndromic surveillance for cleaner air and healthier kids
A Pennsylvanian health project is building a real-time warning system to help doctors and families spot spikes in asthma and COPD risks related to air pollution and smoke.
-
Impact of Displacement on Aging Immigrant Mental Health and Interventions
A project with Lehigh University will explore how past displacement affects the mental health of older Bhutanese American immigrants and develop ideas for supportive interventions.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.