Ji Chen Bihl

My research interests are in the areas of cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes, specifically in developing novel predictive and therapeutic avenues for ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and vascular complications of diabetes. My ongoing research topics include:

1. Extracellular microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes (EXs) in brain disorders and diabetic vascular complications.
2. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in neurological dysfunction, vascular protection, and tissue repair.
3. Exosomal communications between adipose tissue and brain/vessels.
4. MVs and EXs in skin injury and wound healing. 

EPC priming for functional enhancement with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) or CXCR4 has been studied in my research. The effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the release and cargoes (proteins and microRNAs) of EPC-EXs are currently under investigation. The cross-talk mediated by MVs or EXs between endothelial cells and brain cells, as well as endothelium and keratinocytes are also currently being explored. More recently, the role of exosomes released from adipose tissue in modulating the function of vessels and the brain is being studied.