B. Pena

Y chromosome linked UTY modulates sex differences in valvular fibroblast methylation in response to nanoscale extracellular matrix cues

The paper investigates how UTY modulates sex-specific methylation in male valvular fibroblasts in response to nanoscale extracellular matrix cues, promoting osteoblast-like cell phenotypes in aortic valve stenosis.

Tissue-engineered models of lung cancer premalignancy

This paper develops a tissue-engineered model of human lung cancer premalignancy using hydrogel-embedded lung slices exposed to cigarette smoke carcinogens, showing the formation of premalignant lesions and testing chemoprevention agents.

3D-bioprinted, phototunable hydrogel models for studying adventitial fibroblast activation in pulmonary arterial hypertension

This paper develops a 3D-bioprinted hydrogel model to study fibroblast activation in pulmonary arterial hypertension, showing increased fibrotic and proliferative markers in stiffer matrices.