Rachel Coy

Project

Modelling the Coordinated Patterning of Nerves and Blood Vessels During Development and Repair

The broad aim of my project is to develop a mathematical framework to model vacularisation and neuronal growth within nerve repair constructs, which will be capable of directing and accelerating the design of constructs in the future. This involves the use of experimental data to parameterise and validate the model.

Currently, I am working with the finite element software COMSOL to parameterise a mathematical model of cell-oxygen-VEGF interactions using in vitro data. This model will hopefully enable us to identify optimal seeded cell densities for engineered tissue with the goal of increasing cell survival and vascularisation.

Funding: British Heart Foundation and UCL CoMPLEX

Supervisors/ Collaborators

Dr Rebecca Shipley

Dr James Phillips