Michigan State University · PharmacologyWatts Vascular Lab
Stephanie W Watts · East Lansing, Michigan
Research Focus
Dr. Stephanie W Watts' lab at Michigan State University investigates the role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in maintaining vascular health. The lab aims to understand how PVAT interacts with blood vessels and influences blood pressure regulation, which is crucial for preventing cardiovascular diseases. The research employs a variety of animal models and innovative techniques to explore how physiological changes impact PVAT function and, ultimately, cardiovascular health.
PVATvascular healthblood pressurehypertensionadipose tissuecardiovascular diseasemechanotransductionimmune response
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the interactions between PVAT and blood vessels.
AIM 02Explore how PVAT contributes to changes in blood pressure regulation.
AIM 03Determine the role of PVAT in mechanotransduction and vascular stiffness.
AIM 04Examine the immune cell function within the unique microenvironment of PVAT.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelslineage tracingoptogeneticschemogeneticspressure modelingmicroscopybioinformaticscell culturerat modelsdata analysis
Output against the department
Publications420top 14% of dept.66th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.5ktop 48% of dept.223rd of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.