Research Interests
Dr. Phillippi's research scope broadly encompasses cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) dynamics using tissue-engineered approaches to study, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. Dr. Phillippi's projects are carried out using human tissue specimens, blood and cell populations isolated from patients of the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Of primary interest is the presence of local vasculogenic cells within blood vessels and their contribution to the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. A specific focus of Dr. Phillippi's research is to understand ECM signaling in the adventitia, the outermost layer of the aortic wall in aneurysmal disease. Her team is developing ECM-based biomaterials as disease models to understand how ECM signals influence function of the vasa vasorum, a microvascular network of the aorta. The ultimate goal of her work is to establish novel diagnostics and to develop new less-invasive treatment options for aneurysm and other cardiac surgery applications. Dr. Phillippi is affiliated faculty of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Center for Vascular Remodeling and Regeneration. More information can be found here.
Selected Publications
- Billaud M, Hill JC, Richards TR, Gleason TG, and Phillippi JA. Medial Hypoxia and Adventitial Vasa Vasorum Remodeling in Human Ascending Aortic Aneurysm. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. Published online 17 Sept 2018. PubMed PMID: 30276199
- Billaud M, Donnenberg VS, Ellis BW, Meyer EM, Donnenberg AD, Hill JC, Richards TD, Gleason TG, and Phillippi JA. Classification and Functional Characterization of Vasa Vasorum-Associated Perivascular Progenitor Cells in Human Aorta. Stem Cell Reports. 2017. 9 (1): 292-303. PubMed PMID: 28552602
- Fercana GR*, Yerneni S*, Billaud M, Hill JC, VanRyzin P, Richards TD, Sicari B, Badylak SF, Johnson S, Campbell PG, Gleason TG, and Phillippi JA. Perivascular Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels Mimic Native Matrix Microarchitecture and Promote Angiogenesis via Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor. Biomaterials. 2017 Apr;123: 142-154. *Equal contribution. PubMed PMID: 28167392
- Billaud M*, Phillippi JA*, Kotlarczyk MP, Hill JC, Ellis BW, St. Croix CM, Cantu-Medellin N, Kelley EE, and Gleason TG. Elevated Oxidative Stress in the Aortic Media of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017. 154 (5): 1756-1762. *Equal contribution. PubMed PMID: 28651938.