Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment:
Surgery
Additional Title:
Assistant Professor Division of Vascular Surgery Department of Surgery
Location:
UMMC S10B00
Phone (Primary):
410-328-5840
Fax:
410-328-0717
Education and Training
Professional Training
Fellowship - Vascular Surgery; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Pittsburgh, PA
Residency - General Surgery;Loyola University Medical Center; Maywood,IL
Education
Loyola University Chicago; Maywood, IL
Ph.D.; Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy
Tufts University School of Medicine; Boston, MA
M.D.; Medicine
Cornell University, Arts and Sciences; Ithaca, NY
B.A.; Cell/Molecular Biology
Biosketch
I received my Bachelor of Arts at Cornell University, Arts and Sciences in 2000, graduating with distinction; my medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine in 2004; and my PhD in Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy from Loyola University Chicago in 2012. During my PhD education, I was awarded a pre-doctoral training grant from the American Heart Association to investigate mediators of vascular cell interactions in a tissue engineered blood vessel. In 2013, I completed my general surgical residency at Loyola University Medical Center and my clinical fellowship in vascular surgery at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in June of 2015. I am currently an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and part-time staff surgeon at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) and am committed to both a health-related research career and a clinical practice caring for patients with vascular disease.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Aortic Disease Carotid Artery Disease Diabetic Foot Wounds Dialysis Access Surgery Limb Preservation Venous Disease
Highlighted Publications
- Aicher BO, Mukhopadhyay S, Lu X, Muratoglu SC, Strickland DK, Ucuzian AA. “Quantitative micro-CT analysis of aortopathy in a mouse model of β-aminoproprionitrile-induced aortic aneurysm and dissection.” Journal of Visual Experimentation. 2018 Jul 16;(137).
- Ucuzian AA, Bufalino DV, Pang Y, Greisler HP. “Angiogenic Endothelial Cell Invasion into Fibrin is Stimulated by Proliferating Smooth Muscle Cell.” Microvascular Research. Nov 22; 90:40-7. Epub 2013 Jul 22.
- Gassman AA, Kuprys T, Ucuzian AA, Brey E, Matsumura A, Pang Y, Larson J, Greisler HP. “Three Dimensional 10% Cyclic Strain Reduces Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cell Angiogenic Sprout Length and Augments Tubulogenesis in Tubular Fibrin Hydrogels.” J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2011 May; 5(5): 375-383.
- Brewster LP, Ucuzian AA, Brey EM, Liwanag M, Samarel AM, Greisler HP. “FRNK Overexpression Limits the Depth and Frequency Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Invasion in a Three-Dimensional Fibrin Matrix.” J Cell Physiol. 2010 Nov; 225(2): 562-568.
- Ucuzian AA, Brewster LP, East AT, Pang Y, Gassman AA, Greisler HP. “Characterization of the Chemotactic and Mitogenic Response of SMCs to PDGF-BB and FGF-2 in Fibrin Hydrogels.” J Biomed Mater Res A. 2010 Sep; 94(3): 988-996.
- Pang Y, Wang X, Ucuzian AA, Brey EM, Burgess WH, Jones KJ, Alexander TD, Greisler HP. “Local Delivery of a Collagen-binding FGF-1 Chimera to Smooth Muscle Cells in Collagen Scaffolds for Vascular Tissue Engineering.” Biomaterials. 2010 Feb; 31(5): 878-885.
- Pang Y, Ucuzian AA, Matsumura A, Brey EM, Gassman AA, Husak VA, Greisler HP. “The Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Microscale Collagen Scaffold Remodeling by Smooth Muscle Cells.” Biomaterials. 2009 Apr; 30(11): 2023-2031.
Research Interests
My prior research work focused on vascular tissue engineering, and the study of growth factors as tools for the engineering of micro-vasculatures in tissue engineered blood vessels. Since accepting a faculty position at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, I have worked with Dr. Dudley Strickland, to investigate the role of LRP1 in vascular disease. My current project builds on my experience in growth factors and vascular disease focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of aortic dissection and aneurysm. We study this using both animal models and studies with human subjects. We have identified in animal models that aerobic exercise has a profoundly beneficial effect in aortic dissection. Mechanistic studies are underway. I currently have ongoing clinical research projects and am the site Principal Investigator for a national randomized control trial BEST-CLI, comparing endovascular and open surgery in critical limb ischemia. Additionally, I am the princial investigator of a quality of life assessment of patients with chronic aortic dissections and am preparing a human subject trial evaluating physical activity and exercise in aortic dissection.
Clinical Specialty Details
My clinical interests include the broad spectrum of vascular disease including open and endovascular treatments for peripheral arterial disease, venous disease, carotid disease, dialysis access, and aortic disease.
Awards and Affiliations
Heart and Vascular Surgical Services, Vascular Surgery
Vascular Surgery - Board Certified
Highlighted Honors and Awards
2004 Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Tufts University School of Medicine
2007 Best Basic Science Paper Presentation, 31st Annual Meeting of the Association of VA Surgeons, Little Rock, AR
2017 Recipient, Robert W. Hobson, II, MD Early Career Investigator Award, Council of Peripheral Vascular Disease, American Heart Association
Grants and Contracts
Active Grants
12/10/2019- PI (75% Effort)
11/30/2024 “Mechanisms of aortopathy in LRP1 deficiency.”
NIH 1K08HL146893-01A1
05/05/2018-Present Site PI
“Best Endovascular vs. Best Surgical Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia (BEST-CLI)”
NHLBI
06/01/2020-05/31/2025 PI (75% Effort)
“Mechanisms of aortopathy in LRP1 deficiency.”
2020 SVS Foundation/American College of Surgeons Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award
In the News
'Double Whammy' Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Heart Attack
Professional Activity
2004-2013 Member, American College of Surgeons Candidate Group
2007-2008 Member, North American Vascular Biology Organization Trainee Group
2008-2009 Candidate Member, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society
2017-Current Early Career Member, American Heart Association, PVD Council
2017-Current Member, Eastern Vascular Society
2018-Current Member; Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery, Society for Vascular Surgery
2018-Current Member, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society
2018-2019 Physician Member – National, American Venous Forum
2018-Current Member, Associate Fellow, American College of Surgeons
2018-Current Member, Association of VA Surgeons