معرفی
Karl Swärd is a Professor and Research Team Manager at Lund University's Faculty of Medicine, where he leads research in cellular biomechanics as part of the Proactive Ageing profile area. His work focuses on understanding how mechanical forces translate into biochemical signals, particularly in cardiovascular contexts.
Dr. Swärd's research interests span cardiovascular physiology, mechanotransduction, and vascular biology. He investigates how hypertension translates into cardiovascular disease, with specific focus on the NOTCH signaling pathway, caveolae function, and thrombospondin-4 (Thbs4) mechanisms. His work has established connections between hypertension-driven stroke and syndromic stroke through NOTCH pathway involvement. He also studies caveolinopathies using mouse models and examines the genetic control mechanisms of caveolae formation through myocardin family coactivators.
His recent publication trends reveal strong focus on mechanoresponsive genes and their role in cardiovascular and renal pathologies. His work spans from fundamental cellular biomechanics to translational applications in hypertension, aneurysm development, and bladder fibrosis. His research demonstrates interdisciplinary connections between cardiovascular, renal, and urological systems through shared molecular mechanisms.
Dr. Swärd currently leads multiple research projects including studies on mechanoregulated transcription factors in vascular aging, LL-37-induced cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory treatments for Moyamoya disease, and vascular signaling in hypertension. His laboratory collaborates extensively within Lund University and internationally, with work contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and wellbeing.
