BME Seminar Series: Jessica Wagenseil, PhD
April 28 @ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Biomechanics of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms
Jessica Wagenseil, DSc
Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Vice Dean for Faculty Advancement
McKelvey School of Engineering
Washington University
Abstract:
Thoracic aortic aneurysms are a dilation of the aortic wall that can be asymptomatic for many years until they dissect or rupture. Dissection or rupture is associated with a high mortality rate. Surgical replacement is the current treatment standard and is performed when the aortic aneurysm reaches a specified size or growth rate. However, many aortic aneurysms fail before reaching these thresholds and many pass the thresholds without failing. We are interested in predicting how the aneurysm will grow, remodel, and fail in response to mechanical stimuli using mouse models of human aneurysmal disease. Data will be presented from our work on biomechanical metrics associated with aneurysms, correlations between mechanical changes and biochemical signaling, growth and remodeling predictions of aneurysm progression, fluid-solid structure interaction modeling of aneurysm biomechanics and failure, and transmural fluid and solid transport, as possible contributions to aneurysmal disease.
