Vasculata 2026

About This Grant

SUMMARY The annual Vasculata conference has been convening since 2004, and has been hosted by different academic research institutions throughout the United States. Vasculata is co-sponsored by the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO), which promotes the study of vascular biology and the dissemination of scientific knowledge and discoveries to the next generation of vascular biologists and bioengineers. The NAVBO Educa- tion Committee has selected the University at Buffalo (UB) – SUNY as the host of Vasculata 2026, marking the first time the meeting will be held in Western New York! Vasculata is an intense “boot camp” that provides foun- dational knowledge in vascular biology, as well as the latest discoveries and technologies, to students and post- doctoral trainees. The meeting has grown considerably since the inaugural meeting in 2004 (a group of about 60 people) to now attracting a group of about 100-120 faculty, students, and fellows. UB, especially the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (JSMBS), houses a critical mass of faculty with expertise in various areas of vascular biology including, but not limited to, vascular endothelial cell and mural cell biology, inflamma- tory signaling and molecular mechanisms of vascular cell dysfunction in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and other organ-specific diseases, metabolic and hemodynamic regulation of vascular function, intercellular commu- nication, angiogenesis, vascular remodeling in development and pathology, stem cell-driven vascular biology, bioengineered vascular grafts, vascular medicine, aneurysms and other blood vessel disorders. UB is within driving distance from other top tier institutions, such as the University of Rochester (collaborating institution in Vasculata 2026), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, and the University of Pittsburgh (host of Vasculata 2025). Furthermore, UB is home to the a) world-renowned Canon Stroke & Vascular Research Center that focuses on research related to the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease through minimally invasive image-guided interventions and im- proved imaging modalities, and b) the Gates Vascular Institute that consists of a team of health care specialists from UB’s JSMBS, who provide state-of-the-art vascular, stroke, and cardiac care under one roof. A key strength of our program is the incorporation of bioengineering-based vascular-focused presentations through the involve- ment of faculty from the Departments of Biomedical Engineering at UB (including the Vasculata 2026 Chair) and the University of Rochester. All training and dissemination of new knowledge through lectures, workshops and poster sessions, as well as faculty, student and trainee networking, align with the education mission of the NHLBI.