Funded Research Grants
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2023
- Julie De Backer, MD, PhD, Patrick Sips, PhD, Ghent University; Hiromi Yanagisawa, MD, PhD, Tsukuba University, Contribution of immune cells to vascular wall damage and dissection in Marfan syndrome, $220,000 1-Year Everest Award
- Matthew Greenblatt, MD, PhD, Weill Cornell Medical College, Skeletal Stem Cell Niche Dysfunction in Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-Year Innovators Award
- Lingling Hu, PhD, Hospital for Special Surgery, Tendon/ligament stem cell niche dysfunction underlining musculoskeletal phenotypes in Marfan syndrome, $100,000 2-Year Victor McKusick Fellowship
- Ilse Luyckx, PhD, University of Antwerp, In-depth exploration of the (epi)genetic landscape of BAV/TAA disease using Smad6-deficiency as an entry point, $100,000 2-Year Victor McKusick Fellowship
- Bhama Ramkhelawon, PhD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Interrogating platelet-derived Tgfb1 signaling in Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections in Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-Year Innovators Award
- Aline Verstraeten, PhD, University of Antwerp, Reinforcement of translational Loeys-Dietz syndrome research through aorta-on-a-chip development, $100,000 2-Year Career Development Award
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2022
- Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD, Ghent University, An appraisal of the contribution of neural crest lineages in a zebrafish model for aortic dissection, $100,000 2-Year Innovators Award
- Ketan Ghaghada, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Prediction of Aortic Dissection and Rupture in Marfan Syndrome Using Nano-Radiomics, $100,000 2-Year Innovators Award
- Daniel Martin, PhD, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Mast cell chymase in Marfan syndrome thoracic aortic aneurysms, $100,000 2-Year Victor McKusick Fellowship
- Leda Restrepo, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Epigenetic determinants and mechanistic insights into the role of the long non-coding RNA Meg3 in the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm, $100,000 2-Year Victor McKusick Fellowship
- Simone Saitta, PhD, Politecnico di Milano, Machine learning for identification of geometrical and biomechanical markers of aortic dissection in Marfan patients, $100,000 2-Year Victor McKusick Fellowship
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2021
- Marie Billaud, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mitochondria – ECM crosstalk in aortic SMCs of Marfan Patients, $100,000 2-Year Career Development Award
- Jefferson Doyle, MBBChir, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Treatment of Axial Myopia in Marfan Syndrome using Prostaglandin, $100,000 2-Year Career Development Award
- Delphine Gomez, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Alteration of H34Kme2 in Marfan syndrome: A driver of aortic dilation, $100,000, 2-Year Innovators Award
- Bart Loeys, MD, PhD, University of Antwerp, Exploration of a novel biomarker for thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissections, $100,000 2-Year Innovators Award
- Josephina Meester, PhD, University of Antwerp, Pathomechanistic study of biglycan mutations in aortopathy development, $100,000 2-Year Victor McKusick Fellowship
- Enid Neptune, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Defining Alveolar Epithelial Phenotype in Marfan Lung Disease, $100,000 2-Year Innovators Award
- Joseph Turek, MD, PhD, Duke University, TRPC4/ATR1 Dual Antagonism Blocks Marfan Aortopathy, $220,000 1-Year Everest Award
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2020
- Sacha Jensen, PhD, James Cook University, Mechanisms determining Marfan syndrome severity, $100,000 2-Year Faculty Grant
- Giulio Pompilio, MD, PhD, FESC, University of Milan, Study of EMMPRIN as a possible novel therapeutic target for thoracic aortic aneurysms in Marfan syndrome, $100,000 2-Year Faculty Grant
- David Shreiber, PhD, Rutgers University- New Brunswick, The structure-function effects of specific collagen-III mutations in VEDS, $100,000 2-Year Faculty Grant
- Jessica Wagenseil, DSc, Washington University, Targeting elastic fiber degradation in thoracic aortic aneurysms, $100,000 2-Year Faculty Grant
- Michael Samaan, PhD, University of Kentucky, Hip Joint Function and Health in Patients with Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-Year Clinical Research Grant
- Anna Cantalupo, PhD,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, A new druggable epigenetic pathway in Marfan Syndrome, $75,000 Early Investigator Grant
- Yanming Li, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, ScRNA-seq Reveals Crosstalk Between SMC-Like Cells and Macrophages in Aortic Tissues from Marfan Syndrome Patients, $100,000 2-Year Victor McKusick Fellowship
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2019
- Aline Verstraeten, PhD, University of Antwerp, Functional Assessment and Therapeutic Targeting of a Novel Aortopathy Syndrome with the Strong Potential to Inform the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-year Victor McKusick Fellowship
- Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Molecular Pathogenesis of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections in a Novel ACTA2 Mutant Mouse Model, $100,000 2-year Victor McKusick Fellowship
- John Landis, Benjamin, PhD, Trustees of Indiana University, Investigating the Ubiquinone Biosynthesis Gene COQ8B in Thoracic Aortopathy, $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, PhD, RCEP, College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Assessing Gastrointestinal Function and its Effect on Bone Mineral Density in Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and hEDS, $100,000 2-year Clinical Research Grant
- Shaine Morris, MD, MPH, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Evaluating the Effects of Moderate Physical Activity on Health and Well-Being in Adolescents & Young Adults with Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-year Clinical Research Grant
- Enid Neptune, MD, Johns Hopkins University, The Role of Oxidative Stress in Marfan Lung Injury, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Dieter Reinhardt, PhD, McGill University, Dietary Consequences on Clinical Complications in Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Irani Kaikobad, MD, University of Iowa, MicroRNA-204 as an Antidote for Marfan Aortopathy, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
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2018
- Mudiaga Sowho, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Hemodynamic Response to Upper Airway Obstruction in Marfan Syndrome, $150,000 2-year Victor A. McKusick Fellowship Grant
- Yue Xuan, PhD, The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, Improved Rupture Risk Assessment of Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Influence of Marfan Syndrome on Aneurysm Biomechanics, $100,000 2-year Victor A. McKusick Fellowship Grant
- Dianna M. Milewicz, MD, PhD, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Asprosin’s Role in the Appetite and Progeroid Appearance of Marfan Lipodystrophy Syndrome and Neonatal Marfan Syndrome Patients, $100,000 2-year Clinical Research Grant
- Melissa L. Russo, MD, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Pregnancy and Other Reproductive Outcomes in Women with Genetic-predisposition for Aortic Dissection, $100,000 2-year Clinical Research Grant
- Steven Bassnett, PhD, Washington University, Modeling Ocular Aspects of Marfan Syndrome in Mice, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Harry C. Dietz, MD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Identification of Major Genetic Modifiers of Aortic Dissection in Vascular Ehlers Danlos, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- J. Geoffrey Pickering, MD, PhD, The University of Western Ontario, Assessment of Aortic Wall Vulnerability in Syndromic Thoracic Aortic Disease by Innovative Magnetic Resonance Imaging, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
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2017
- James Foster, PhD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Organ Specific Expression of the Short Isoform of ADAMTS2 and Its Role in Corneal Development, $100,000 2-year Victor A. McKusick Fellowship Grant
- Gillian McLellan, BVMS, PhD, DACVO, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Delineating Pathology of the aqueous humor outflow pathways in animals with LTBP2 mutation, $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- Francesca Seta, PhD, Boston University School of Medicine, Preclinical Study to test the Efficacy of Sirtuin-1 against the Vascular Complications of Marfan’s and Related Disorders, $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- Joseph Turek, MD, University of Iowa,A TRPC4-dependent amplification pathway contributes to aortic aneurysm progression in Marfan syndrome, $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- James Hoekel, OD, Washington University, Intraocular Lens Implant and Corneal Laser Surgery in Visually Impaired Children with Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-year Clinical Research Grant
- Bettina Willie, PhD, McGill University, Osteocyte Mechanobiology in Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Jonathan Weinsaft, M.D., Weill-Cornell Medical College, Cardiovascular MRI Wall Stress Characterization for Prediction of Adverse Aortic Remodeling Following Surgical Aneurysm Repair, $100,000 2-year Faculty grant
- Pascal Bernatchez, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, Endothelial Function in Marfan: A Target and Clinical Marker, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Juan Miguel Redondo-Moya, Ph.D., Spanish National Cardiovascular Centre, NO Signaling and ADAMTS1 Substrates in the Pathogenesis of Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
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2016
- Maryline Abrial, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Investigating a Novel Genetic Model of Aortic Root Aneurysm in Zebrafish, $100,000 2-year McKusick Fellowship Grant
- Vallabhajosyula Prashanth MD, MS, University of Pennsylvania, Plasma Endothelial Specific Exosome Profiling in Marfan Syndrome, $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- Rouf Rosanne MD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Using an Established MFS Mouse Model to Understand MVP Pathogenesis, $75,000 2- year Early Investigator Grant
- Dr. Suneel Apte, MBBS, DPhil, Cleveland Clinic, Fibrillin Microfibril Regulation by ADAMTSL3, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Seda Tierney, MD, Stanford University and Mitra Esfandiarei, Ph.D. Midwestern University, Children and Adolescents with Marfan Syndrome: 10,000 Healthy Steps and Beyond, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Zhiyong Lin, PhD, Case Western Reserve University, Allosteric Activation of PP2A to Limit the Progression of Aortic Aneurysm in Marfan Syndrome, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Jessica Wagenseil, DSc, Washington University, Arterial Tortuosity and Aneurysms, $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
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2015
- Emanuela Branchetti, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, RAGE/sRAGE Axis: Novel Biomarker and Mechanism of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Development in Marfan Syndrome. $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- Mitra Esfandiarei, PhD, Midwestern University, Role of Caveolin-1 in the Progression of Aortic Aneurysm in Marfan Syndrome. $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- Parmanand Singh, MD, Weill Cornell Medical College, Predictive Value of Inflammation and Arterial Stiffness in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- Lakshmi Venkatraman PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Systems Biology of Tgfb in Vascular Complications of Marfan Syndrome. $100,000 2-year McKusick Fellowship Grant
- Gustavo Egea, PhD, Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Apolinker P144: A Potential anti-TGF-b Therapeutic Tool to Fight Against Aortic Aneurysms in Marfan Syndrome. $80,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Christina Gurnett, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, Zebrafish Models of Human Fibrillinopathies. $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Francesco Ramirez, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Endothelial Dysfunction as the Trigger of Aortic Aneurysm in the Marfan Syndrome. $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Daniel Rifkin, PhD, New York University School of Medicine, Genetic Interrogation of the Role of LTBPs in Aortic Aneurysms. $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
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2014
- Dirk Hubmacher, PhD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Promotion of Microfibril Assembly in Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells in a Mouse Model for Marfan Syndrome. $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- Douglas Mah, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Ventricular Ectopy and other Rhythm Abnormalities in Children and Young Adults. $37,375 1-year Early Investigator Grant
- Francesca Seta, PhD, Boston University School of Medicine, Sirtuin1 in Aortic Remodeling and Dissection. $75,000 2-year Early Investigator Grant
- David Alvarado, PhD, Washington University, Expanding the Spectrum of Fibrillin Mutations in Marfan Syndrome and Related Disorders. $100,000 2-year McKusick Fellowship Grant
- Elona Gavazi, MD, Columbia University Medical Center, Characterizing the Ophthalmalmic Phenotype of Marfan Syndrome Mouse Model and Demonstrating Pre-Clinical Efficacy of Preventative Therapeutic Interventions in this Heterozygous Model. $150,000 2-year McKusick Fellowship Grant
- Steven Bassnett, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, Role of Microfibrils in the Biology and Pathology of the Eye. $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Silvia Smaldone, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Characterization of Long Bone Overgrowth in Marfan Syndrome. $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
- Dudley Strickland, PhD, Role of LRP1 in Regulating Development of Marfan Syndrome. $100,000 2-year Faculty Grant
Together, We Can Know the Signs
and Fight for Victory
