# Core C: Computational and Experimental Biomechanical Assessment (CEBA)

> **NIH NIH P01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $222,409

## Abstract

COMPUTATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BIOMECHANICAL ASSESSMENT (CEBA)
CORE C - PROJECT SUMMARY
This Scientific Core will provide consistent and comprehensive biomechanical evaluation, both in vivo and in
vitro, of the different mouse models used in this Program Project. First, mouse-specific aortic geometries will
be determined using microCT whereas associated inlet and outlet flows and inlet pressures will be measured
in vivo using ultrasound and Millar pressure catheters, respectively. Second, cylindrical specimens will be
excised from the ascending, descending, suprarenal, and infrarenal segments of the aorta and subjected to
novel, consistent, in vitro biomechanical phenotyping. Specifically, we will assess endothelial-dependent and
independent vasodilatory capacity, compromised levels of induced biaxial smooth muscle cell contractility, and
passive biaxial mechanical properties, and we will compare results across regions and groups using
appropriate parametric and non-parametric statistics. Third, the biaxial material properties will be used to
compute regional material and structural stiffnesses, energy storage, and layer-specific wall stresses, which in
conjunction with the microCT and other in vivo data will inform unique fluid-solid-interaction computational
simulations that can assess effects of altered geometry and wall properties on the micro-mechanical
environment to which each of the primary cell types is exposed (e.g., endothelial shear stresses and smooth
muscle and fibroblast intramural stress). These results, in turn, will be provided to each of the four Projects
within the overall Program Project to enable correlations of mechanical stimuli with results from the myriad
biological assays used in each project. In this way, collectively we will be able to evaluate, for the first time,
critical roles of cellular mechanosensing and mechanoregulation of the extracellular matrix that endows the
thoracic aorta with its compliance and strength and when compromised results in the loss of structural integrity
that manifests as a potentially lethal thoracic aortic aneurysm.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136693
- **Project number:** 5P01HL134605-04
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Jay D. Humphrey
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $222,409
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136693

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136693, Core C: Computational and Experimental Biomechanical Assessment (CEBA) (5P01HL134605-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136693. Licensed CC0.

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