Joyce Bischoff

Dr. Joyce Bischoff is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and a Principal Investigator in the Vascular Biology Program at Boston Children's Hospital. She leads the Bischoff Laboratory, where her research focuses on vascular tumors and malformations, particularly infantile hemangioma and capillary malformations linked to GNAQ mutations.

• AB in Chemistry, Duke University
• PhD in Biochemistry, Washington University School of Medicine
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
• Joined Children's Hospital in 1990; promoted to Professor at Harvard Medical School in 2010

Dr. Bischoff's research centers on endothelial cells, pericytes, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in vascular diseases. Her lab identified hemangioma stem cells (HemSC) capable of recapitulating infantile hemangioma in mice and has elucidated mechanisms of propranolol and statin action in these tumors. She investigates how somatic GNAQ mutations drive capillary malformations and Sturge-Weber syndrome, focusing on ANGPT2, endothelial permeability, and paracrine signaling. Her work combines cellular models, xenografts, and mouse genetics to uncover disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.

Her recent publications reveal trends in targeting SOX18-mevalonate pathways, CD45-mediated EndMT, and MAPK/ANGPT2 signaling in vascular anomalies. These studies span molecular biology, pharmacology, and translational medicine, with implications for drug repurposing and precision therapies.

Scientific recognition includes:

• President of the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO), 2015–2016

Dr. Bischoff actively mentors postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and research technologists. Her lab has trained numerous scientists who now hold academic, clinical, and industry positions. She has secured sustained research funding to support her team's work on vascular development and disease. The Bischoff Laboratory collaborates across disciplines, including with Dr. Hong Chen’s lab on atherosclerosis models, and contributes to consensus guidelines in angiogenesis research.

The lab operates within the Vascular Biology Program at Boston Children's Hospital, utilizing advanced techniques in cell isolation, molecular signaling, and in vivo modeling. Current projects include drug discovery for vascular anomalies, endothelial barrier function, and the developmental origins of GNAQ-mutant cells.