Brent A. French

Brent A. French is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on integrating targeted drug/gene delivery with advanced imaging techniques (MRI, PET, ultrasound) to address cardiovascular disease mechanisms and therapy evaluation. He leads the Molecular Bioengineering Lab, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and translational research.

Education:

• B.S. in Biochemistry, Louisiana State University (1982)
• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Louisiana State University (1987)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine/NIH (1987–1991)

Research Interests:

• Targeted drug and gene delivery systems
• Novel diagnostic imaging methods (e.g., ultrasound, MRI)
• Tissue engineering for cardiovascular applications
• Cardiovascular disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Grants & Projects:

• NIH R01 HL147193: $1.6M for developing molecularly targeted AAV for cardiac regeneration
• CHRB #207-10-19: $266K for in situ cardiac regeneration post-infarction
• NIH R01 HL147104: $2.99M for multiparametric MRI in coronary microvascular disease

Labs/Teams: Molecular Bioengineering Lab (MR5 Building, Rooms 1205/1219), collaborating on interdisciplinary projects with cardiovascular and imaging experts.