Research interests: Endothelial mechanobiology, inflammation, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, hemodynamics
Dr. Passerini’s research studies the origins of atherosclerosis, the inflammation of arteries that underlies cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death and disability in much of the world.
His lab applies artery-on-a-chip microfluidic tools to study the signaling mechanisms by which mechanical cues imparted by blood flow converge with other factors, driven by diet and metabolism, to sensitize the arteries to pathological change.
His work has provided insight into the links between unhealthy diets, lipid metabolism, and endothelial inflammatory responses that mark among the earliest changes in arteries promoting atherosclerosis.
One long-term goal of this work is to provide clinicians with a more personalized approach to monitoring an individual’s risk and response to intervention in managing cardiovascular disease.
