Cellular Mechanisms of Vascular Calcification and Opportunities for Targeted Therapies

Abstract:
Vascular calcification is the major precursor to cardiovascular disease and is further exacerbated by chronic kidney disease. Phosphate is a known precursor to vascular calcification which leads to the onset of CVCs and other complications. Increased serum levels of inorganic phosphate lead to calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells and a phenotypic switch to an osteoblast-like cell. Once thought to be a passive process of calcium and phosphate deposition within arteries, vascular calcification is now known to be an active, cell-regulated condition. There is a clinical need to develop a therapy for vascular calcification that reduces calcification without causing arterial damage similar to current therapies such as endovascular stent and atherectomy. We are examining the role of phosphate in vascular smooth muscle cell calcification and the potential of protein therapy to reduce calcification.

Bio:
Dr. C. LaShan Simpson Hendrix is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Before joining the faculty at University of Cincinnati in 2024, she was an Associate Professor at Mississippi State University (2013 – 2023) and she trained as a postdoctoral research associate at Rice University in the Department of Bioengineering. Dr. Hendrix received all her educational training at Clemson University with a B.S. in Biochemistry, M.S., and Ph.D. In Bioengineering. Dr. Hendrix’s research interests include vascular calcification, smooth muscle cells, cell and gene therapy, and mechanotransduction. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In addition to her passion for vascular research, Dr. Hendrix is a student advocate and a champion for diversity and inclusion. She has worked to create inclusive spaces for trainee development and success. She has received numerous awards for her efforts including Teacher of the Year, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University, 2018; Academy of Distinguished Teachers, Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University, 2019; and Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award, Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning, 2020. Her pride and joy are the diversity of her research lab and the outstanding accomplishments of her trainees. Dr. Hendrix is the founder of BlackWomenInBME and has hosted sessions for her group at the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual meeting since 2018. She is the recipient of the 2021 Biomedical Engineering Society Diversity Award Lecture and the 2025 Mentor Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).