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Our overall research focus is the characterization and modeling of the structure-function-biomechanics of native and engineered soft tissues, and linking these studies to the underlying cellular mechanobiology. In particular, our laboratory has focused on the mechanical behavior and function of the native aortic and mitral heart valves, including the development of the first constitutive (stress-strain) models for these tissues using a structural approach. To acquire the necessary critical experimental data, our laboratory has developed several novel methods to quantify tissue structure and mechanical testing techniques. By integrating the resulting experimental data obtained from both techniques, we have developed structural constitutive (stress-strain) models that directly integrate information on tissue composition and structure. These models avoid ambiguities in material characterization, offering insight into the function, structure, and mechanics of tissue components. Recent work includes simulation studies of cell/tissue/organ mechanical interactions in native and engineered heart valves. We are particularly interested in determining the local stress environment of heart valve interstitial cells. This work aims to utilize and integrated experimental/multi-scale finite element approach o determine how hemodynamic loading on the valve translates to altered stress states on the valve interstitial cell function and, in-turn, changes in local extra-cellular structure/composition and valve function.