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Laura Hansen

  • Department of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
Head shot of Laura Hansen

Overview

Dr. Hansens lab studies the interactions between satellite cells and the vasculature. Satellite cells are skeletal muscle progenitor cells that are known to play an important role in muscle repair after injury and adaptation to exercise. However, the Hansen lab focuses on a previously underexplored role of satellite cells in vascular growth. They have found that satellite cells, when activated, produced a number of chemoattractant growth factors that drive the migration of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells which in an important factor in the growth and development of blood vessels. This area is of particular interest in the context of peripheral artery disease, where patients suffer from ischemic tissue damage but treatment options are still limited. The lab has shown that ischemia stimulates satellite cells and are exploring ways to harness their angiogenic properties in vivo or through therapeutically delivered cells.
Dr. Hansen received her BS in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007 and PhD in Bioengineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2012. She then completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Emory University in Cardiology. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Division of Cardiology and recently received a Career Development Award from the American Heart Association.

Academic Appointment

  • Associate Program Director, Academic Basic Scientist Research Pathway, Emory University
  • Program Faculty BioEngineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Program Faculty Molecular Systems and Pharmacology Graduate Program, Emory University
  • Program Faculty Biomedical Engineering, Emory University/Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Assistant Professor of Medicine, Emory University

Education

Degrees

  • PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology
  • BS from University of Pittsburgh

Research

Publications

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