Modelling lymphatic vessel pumping

Project description

The efficacy of lymphatic vessels for collecting and pumping lymph from interstitial tissues is key in returning fluid back to the cardiovascular system. Impaired pumping can lead to debilitating conditions such as lymphedema (often as a result of lymph node removal during breast cancer surgery). Upscaling current models of lymphatic pumping to large networks is currently computationally inefficient. This project aims to develop network models of lymphatic vessels that accounts for the complex active mechanics as well as valve behaviour of these vessels to provide deeper insights into how mechanical therapies can be developed to alleviate lymphedema.