Research

Overview

Intracranial Aneurysms – Stroke, the third leading cause of death in western countries, results from either ischemia (blood vessel blockage) or hemorrhage (bleeding). The most severe form of stroke is hemorrhage from ruptured intracranial aneurysms, which has a greater than 50% mortality rate. At the Hemodynamics Lab at the Toshiba Stroke Research Center, we aim at advancing our understanding of intracranial aneurysms, improving their clinical diagnosis, and advancing their treatment. Working with a cross-disciplinary team, we combine advanced engineering tools such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and engineering design with medical imaging, as well as cellular and molecular biology techniques to elucidate the following critical issues:

1. Blood Flow Dynamics. We apply CFD analysis of various sophistication levels which may include pulsatile flow, non-Newtonian fluid and distensible vessel walls. Always involving complex geometry, computational models are built to represent clinical data and give valuable insight. Current aims are: aneurysm rupture risk prediction based on morphology and image-derived flow dynamics; evaluation of endovascular device for stroke/aneurysm intervention such as stents, on a “virtual intervention” platform; individualized medicine: patient-specific image-based computational fluid dynamics analysis to provide fast input for treatment decision.

2. Aneurysm Pathogenesis. To understand the formation, growth and rupture of intracranial aneurysm, the first step is to study its pathogenesis. We have determined that hemodynamics (blood flow dynamics), in combination with impaired biological response, play a pivotal role in aneurysm initiation through destructive vascular remodeling. In addition to our unique, celebrated in vivo models, we employ endothelial cell culture (in vitro) and tissue culture (ex vivo) subjected to well-controlled, specific flow conditions to obtain information on flow-mediated vascular responses and the implications on aneurysm development.

3. Molecular Targets for Aneurysm Rupture Risk and Repair. This emerging area holds great promises for early detection of at-risk aneurysm patients and development of non-invasive therapy. Molecular imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) as well as proteomics will be used to identify molecular targets. Combined with structural imaging and hemodynamic analysis, we hope to advance the development of individualized medicine.

Our research is highly multidisciplinary. It is biomedical engineering; it is biomechanics; it is tackling biological system complexity using an integrative approach combining modeling, imaging and biology. A particular area of research is often invigorated by novel perspectives that come from cross-disciplines. Two of our publications have been featured as covers of the respective journals (Stroke, June 2007; Neurosurgery, November 2006). We are pleased that our approach is already making a positive impact on human health.

For more information, please contact

  • Hui Meng, Professor
  • Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • State University of New York at Buffalo
  • 324 Jarvis Hall
  • Buffalo, NY 14260
  • Tel: (716)645-2593 ext.2354
  • Fax: (716)645-3875
  • Email: huimeng@buffalo.edu

Webpage created by Jianping Xiang, last update: 10-12-07