Lead by Professor Cay Kielty

The Vascular and Tubular Structures Group comprises the following groups and individuals:

• Prof. C. M. Kielty (programme leader) and Prof. M. Walker
  We are generating vascular grafts composed of a collagen-based matrix contracted onto a tubular biopolymer scaffolds by smooth muscle cells (SMC) and lined by endothelial cells (EC) (Walker). The isolation, purification and seeding of microvascular EC from fat tissue is automated. Graft integrity and function are being assessed in vitro and in vivo. We are developing autologous grafts populated with arterial SMC that deposit a functional extracellular matrix to preserve integrity and long-term haemodynamic activity (Kielty).

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