David Merryman

David Merryman is the Walters Family Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University's School of Engineering, holding additional professorships in Pharmacology, Medicine, and Pediatrics. His research focuses on mechanobiology in fibrotic diseases, targeting cadherin-11 and developing GPCR-based therapies for cardiovascular conditions like pulmonary hypertension. He earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh, with prior degrees from the University of Tennessee.

Research interests include:

• Mechanical force effects on cellular signaling and fibrosis
• Cardiovascular and renal disease mechanisms
• 5-HT2B receptor drug development
• Cadherin-11 as a therapeutic target
• Myofibroblast- immune cell interactions

Recent work highlights novel 5-HT2B antagonists for pulmonary arterial hypertension and insights into cadherin-11's role in kidney injury. His lab employs advanced models including patient-derived cells and genetic knockout mice. Collaborations span engineering, medicine, and pharmacology to address unmet clinical needs in fibrosis and valve disease.