Susan Lessner

Susan Lessner is Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. She directs research on vascular biomechanics focusing on atherosclerotic plaque rupture mechanisms and intraplaque angiogenesis. Her laboratory combines biomechanical testing with molecular biology approaches to study arterial wall failure.

Education includes:

• B.S. Chemical Engineering (Princeton University, 1983)
• Ph.D. Chemical Engineering (MIT, 2000)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cardiology (Emory University, 2003)

Research interests center on vascular biology and biomechanics, with particular focus on:

• Mechanical determinants of plaque rupture
• Intraplaque angiogenesis as a destabilizing factor
• Constitutive modeling of arterial tissues
• Development of mechanical testing methods for plaque stability

Recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on experimental biomechanics and computational modeling, with 50% of last 15 articles involving mechanical testing frameworks and 30% focusing on advanced imaging techniques. Collaborative work with mechanical engineering colleagues appears in 40% of publications.

Laboratory resources include dedicated cell culture facilities and mechanical testing equipment. Current collaborations involve joint projects with the Department of Mechanical Engineering on arterial constitutive modeling.