Project Evaluation of Abdominal Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in Juvenile Mice Program DUIRI - Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship Term Summer 2026 Status Accepted Research Area Biomedical engineering, imaging, cardiovascular Description Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAAs) develop when the wall of the aorta weakens and gradually enlarges, affecting pediatric patients and adults. These aneurysms are often asymptomatic until rupture, which carries a high risk of death, and treatment options are currently limited to surgery. Predicting which aneurysms will progress or rupture is especially challenging in pediatric patients, where normal growth can make disease-related changes difficult to detect. The goal of this project is to better understand how ATAAs develop and progress at different ages using controlled mouse models of disease. Juvenile and adult mice will be used to study age-related differences in aneurysm formation, with disease induced in experimental groups using the lysyl oxidase inhibitor ?-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) and progression monitored over time using high-frequency 4D ultrasound imaging. These data will be used to measure changes in aortic size, wall motion, and blood flow. To connect these functional changes to structural remodeling, aortic tissue will be analyzed using histology. This project provides hands-on experience in cardiovascular imaging and tissue analysis while generating new insight into how ATAAs progress across age groups, ultimately supporting improved prediction of aneurysm risk in patients. Supervisor Meera Pancholi Doran Mentor Type of work required Students on this project will gain hands-on experience in cardiovascular imaging and mouse models. They will learn to perform high-frequency ultrasound imaging and conduct image analysis independently, assist with mouse procedures and post-operative animal care, and prepare and analyze aortic tissue using histology techniques. Students may also have the opportunity to contribute to computational modeling and analysis of ultrasound data to explore aortic biomechanics. Websites Qualifications Students should have an interest in cardiovascular research and imaging. Previous experience with wet lab techniques or coding is helpful but not required. A basic understanding of cardiovascular anatomy will support learning and performing imaging tasks effectively. Credit Hours 0 Weekly Hours 40 (estimated)