Edward Damiano, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Ph.D., Applied Mechanics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Washington University
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Curriculum Vitae

Phone: (617) 353-9493
Fax: (617) 358-2835
Email: edamiano@bu.edu
Office: ERB 701-B

Research Overview

Our lab is engaged in basic scientific research that uses fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and intravital microscopy to study blood flow in the microcirculation and to elucidate mechanisms by which the lining of blood vessels can determine vascular health and disease.  In particular, we have been focusing on the endothelial glycocalyx, which  forms a complex, hydrated mesh of cell surface proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and plasma proteins that is situated at the interface between the vascular wall and flowing blood. In recent studies we have demonstrated that the glycocalyx forms a hydrodynamically relevant layer in vivo, which retards plasma flow within ~500 nm from the vessel wall in skeletal-muscle venules and arterioles.  We have also shown that the observed hydrodynamic properties of the glycocalyx in vivo are substantially absent from endothelial cells cultured under standard conditions in vitro.  In another study, we have demonstrated that the glycocalyx is significantly degraded under chronic but not acute hyperglycemia in non-obese diabetic mice.

In addition to this research, we are creating integrated automated closed-loop blood-glucose control technologies.  Damiano’s interest in closed-loop control is quite personal, and began when his son, David, developed type 1 diabetes at 11 months of age.  Our lab began conducting preclinical trials in diabetic pigs several years ago to test control algorithms that use subcutaneous infusion of insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose in type 1 diabetes.  In February 2008, we were the first academic group to receive an investigational device exemption from the FDA to test a blood-glucose control algorithm in clinical trials.  In September 2009, we completed our first clinical study with the help of 12 adult volunteers with type 1 diabetes in 24-hour experiments in the Mallinckrodt Clinical Research Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital.  We plan to carry out additional clinical studies at MGH in both pediatric and adult subjects with type 1 diabetes in 2010.  Our goal is to have our algorithms closing the loop for people with diabetes before David starts high school.

Current Research

Near-Wall Microfluidics and the Glycocalyx in Venules

Microviscometric Analysis in Venules using μ-PIV

The Hydrodynamically Relevant Glycocalyx in vivo and in vitro

The Recovery Time Course of the Glycocalyx in vivo

Closed-Loop Control in Ambulatory Diabetic Swine

Selected Publications

El-Khatib, F. H., Jiang, J., Damiano, E. R. “A feasibility study of bihormonal closed-loop blood glucose control using subcutaneous infusion of insulin and glucagon in ambulatory diabetic swine” J. Diabetes Sci. Tech. 3: 789-803 (2009)

Potter, D. R., Jiang, J., Damiano, E. R. “The recovery time course of the endothelial cell glycocalyx in vivo and its implications in vitro” Circ. Res. 104: 1318-1325 (2009)

Potter, D. R., Damiano, E. R. “The hydrodynamically relevant endothelial glycocalyx observed in vivo is absent in vitro” Circ. Res. 102: 770-776 (2008)

Savery, M. D., Damiano, E. R. “The endothelial glycocalyx is hydrodynamically relevant in arterioles throughout the cardiac cycle” Biophys. J. 95: 1439-1447 (2008)

Roy, B. C., Damiano, E. R. “On the motion of a porous sphere in a Stokes flow parallel to a planar confining boundary” J. Fluid Mech. 606: 75-104 (2008)

Damiano, E. R., Long, D. S., El-Khatib, F. H., Stace, T. M. “On the motion of a sphere in a Stokes flow parallel to a Brinkman half space” J. Fluid Mech. 500: 75-101 (2004)

Damiano, E. R., Long, D. S., Smith, M. L. “Estimation of viscosity profiles using velocimetry data from parallel flows of linearly viscous fluids: Application to microvascular hemodynamics” J. Fluid Mech. 512: 1-19 (2004)

Long, D. S., Smith, M. L., Pries, A. R., Ley, K., Damiano, E. R. “Microviscometry reveals reduced blood viscosity and altered shear rate and shear stress profiles in microvessels after hemodilution” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101: 10060-10065 (2004)

Smith, M. L., Long, D. S., Damiano, E. R., Ley, K. “Near-wall micro-PIV reveals a hydrodynamically relevant endothelial surface layer in venules in vivo” Biophys. J. 85: 637-645 (2003)

Damiano, E. R., Stace, T. M. “A mechano-electrochemical model of radial deformation of the capillary glycocalyx” Biophys. J. 82: 1153-1175 (2002)

Stace, T. M., Damiano, E. R. “An electrochemical model of the transport of charged molecules through the capillary glycocalyx” Biophys. J. 80: 1670-1690 (2001)