Vascular Science & Therapeutics

"Mimi" Sara Gaines, MD

Investigating the gut-vascular axis and developing microbiome, nanomedicine, and human tissue approaches to improve arteriovenous fistula outcomes.

Program 01 Gut-Vascular Axis

Collaborating Lab: Raman Lab, University of Chicago

Engineering the Gut Microbiome to Reduce Uremic Vascular Toxicity

End-stage kidney disease drives a profoundly dysbiotic gut microbiome that overproduces microbial-derived uremic toxins, including p-cresol sulfate, indoxyl sulfate, and indole-3-acetic acid.

Using a Design-Build-Test-Learn approach, the lab screens defined microbial communities for their capacity to consume aromatic amino acid precursors of uremic toxins and improve AVF remodeling in CKD models.

Aim 1 Determine whether aromatic amino acid-consuming communities suppress uremic toxin production and attenuate EndMT in vitro.
Aim 2 Test whether microbiome-directed therapy reduces toxin burden and improves AVF remodeling in CKD mice.

Relevant publications

Selected publications for this program will be added here.

Program 02 Targeted Nanomedicine

Collaborating Lab: Fang Lab, University of Chicago

Targeted microRNA Nanomedicine to Prevent Neointimal Hyperplasia

Uremic conditions amplify neointimal hyperplasia through endothelial dysfunction and smooth muscle cell phenotype switching. The lab uses cell-targeted polyelectrolyte complex micelles to deliver microRNA modulators.

Current work tests VCAM-1-targeted miR-92a inhibitor and PDGFR-beta-targeted miR-145 mimic in AVF models and microfluidic vascular wall systems.

Aim 1 Test therapeutic effectiveness in murine AVF models with and without CKD.
Aim 2 Define how uremic toxins affect targeted nanoparticle uptake and vascular cell phenotype switching.

Relevant publications

Selected publications for this program will be added here.

Program 03 Human Vessel Platform

Collaborating Labs: SurgBioMech Lab and Sanchez Lab

A Modular Human Vessel Perfusion Platform for Vascular Remodeling Research

The lab has developed a modular ex vivo human vessel perfusion platform that supports pulsatile, physiologically relevant flow through native human vascular tissue.

The platform supports straight arterial segments and surgically constructed AVFs from donor iliac arteries and veins, enabling human tissue studies of acute vascular responses.

Focus Characterize hemodynamic, histological, and cellular responses in human iliac vessels.
Future Test nanoparticle delivery, uremic toxin effects, and device-related vascular remodeling.

Relevant publications

Selected publications for this program will be added here.