My current research focus is on characterizing the signaling pathways that regulate endothelial cell behavior leading to the process of blood vessel development (angiogenesis). In particular, I am interested in characterizing the role of the a4 laminin subunit, a component of the basement membrane of endothelial cells in blood vessel development. I have previously demonstrated that a4 laminin contributes to angiogenesis by interacting with avb3 integrin and b1 integrin containing heterodimers. I plan to further unravel the signaling mechanisms underlying a4 laminin dependent angiogenesis, to identify the critical phosphorylation events and to determine the role of apoptosis in the endothelial cell response to a4 laminin. I am also interested in characterizing the signaling pathways that are involved in either enhancing or blocking the differentiation process of endothelial progenitor cells to endothelial cells. Endothelial progenitor cells have been implicated in the development of new blood vessels during normal and pathological angiogenesis. However, the mechanism and extracellular signals that initiate and regulate this process are poorly understood.