Research in my group concerns the vascular system, its development and contribution to human pathologies. Our long-term goal is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling vascular patterning. We aim to identify key molecular events underlying angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and arteriogenesis and to establish the principles governing development of the vertebrate vascular system. Vessel networks are vulnerable to diseases, and abnormal vascular development in cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. We expect that understanding mechanisms controlling developmental vessel patterning will lead to novel strategies to prevent these diseases