John C. Chappell

John C. Chappell, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, with joint appointments in the Department of Basic Science Education, School of Medicine, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. He currently serves as the Director of the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health graduate program, a key interdisciplinary initiative at the institution.

Dr. Chappell's research focuses on vascular biology, particularly the development and function of blood vessels. His work investigates how pericytes interact with endothelial cells during vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, and how these processes are disrupted in diseases such as stroke, cancer, and diabetes. He combines computational modeling with real-time imaging of ex vivo and in vitro models to study these dynamic cellular interactions.

His recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding pericyte biology, vascular patterning, and the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular diseases, with several studies exploring the role of pericytes in homeostasis and hyperglycemia. His work has significant implications for developing therapies for vascular-related pathologies.

• NSF CAREER Award
• American Heart Association Transformational Project Award
• Joseph S. Pagano Award for Best Paper by a Postdoctoral Fellow
• Outstanding Trainee Oral Presentation, UNC IVB/MHI Research Symposium

Dr. Chappell advises a number of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including Laura Beth Payne, Morgan Julian, Huaning Zhao, and Jordan Darden. His lab has received substantial grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and other sources. He leads the Chappell Lab, which is part of the Center for Vascular and Heart Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.