# Endothelial Biophysical Analysis and Imaging

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2020 · $255,479

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
The principal objective of the Endothelial Biophysical Analysis and Imaging Core is to provide PPG investiga-
tors with a complete range of expertise, training, equipment, and data analysis tools to obtain nano-to-micro
scale biophysical information pertaining to the cellular and molecular basis of endothelial cell (EC) barrier regu-
lation. Core D personnel and equipment will allow PPG scientists to image 3D structures, evaluate physical
and chemical properties and define perturbant-induced real-time changes in the structures and activity of cells
and subcellular constituents, including membranes, cytoskeletal networks, and cell-matrix and cell-cell junc-
tions. This Endothelial Biophysical Analysis and Imaging Core supports the PPG's three research projects with
quantitative microscopy related to atomic force microscopy (AFM), light fluorescence microscopy, total internal
reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, dynamic fluorescence imaging, mechanical measurements of cells
(traction force microscopy) and super-resolution microscopy to allow observation of cellular organelles (e.g.,
cortical cytoskeleton, junctional complexes, focal adhesions and lamellipodia) in great detail (3D). Core D will
also interact with each Project and with Core B (Proteome and Genome Core) to culture endothelial cells engi-
neered to express different MLCK, cortactin, EVL, c-Abl, integrin β4 and paxillin transgenes with specific SNP
or post-translational modification mutations and measure various biophysical forces (TFM and AFM). The
Core also offers access to experienced use of the complete resources of the University of Arizona Imaging
Core Facilities that includes state-of-the-art atomic force microscopes integrated with high-resolution fluores-
cence microscopy systems for simultaneous multimodal correlative studies. This Core will also make use of
the common resources available at Arizona Research Laboratories. The Biophysical Imaging, led by Carol C.
Gregorio, PhD, includes personnel and laboratory facilities for a wide range dynamic fluorescence imaging,
fabrication, and mechanobiophysics. Core D personnel have professional experience spanning the fields of
high resolution imaging and examining physical and chemical properties, including mechanobiophysics, and
various scanning probe microscopies. All Core D experiments will be conducted at the University of Arizona in
Tucson.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9925258
- **Project number:** 5P01HL126609-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** Carol C Gregorio
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $255,479
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9925258

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9925258, Endothelial Biophysical Analysis and Imaging (5P01HL126609-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9925258. Licensed CC0.

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