Education

1979-83 University of South Carolina, Aiken – Bachelors of Science – Biology
1983-85 University of South Carolina – Masters of Science – Biology
1986-88 University of South Carolina – Ph.D. – Biology

Research

The ventricular wall of the heart is composed of contractile muscle cells and non-muscle cell types including fibroblasts, endothelial cells and others. These cells are inter-connected and supported by an elaborate extracellular matrix. Changes in the density and organization of the extracellular matrix are known to affect cardiovascular performance and have been correlated with heart disease. For instance, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix or fibrosis is commonly associated with hypertension and myocardial infarction. The extracellular matrix in the heart is produced largely by cardiac fibroblasts. A number of factors including hormones, growth factors, cytokines and mechanical forces are known to regulate gene expression in fibroblasts; however, many questions remain regarding the integration of these various signals. The research in Dr. Carver’s lab is focused on understanding how fibroblast behavior and gene expression are regulated in the heart. Cell culture and animal models are being used to examine the regulation of fibroblasts in cardiovascular disease.

Publications

• Kostelnik C, Crouse KJ, Carver W, Eberth J (2020) Longitudinal histo mechanical heterogeneity of the internal thoracic artery. Mech Behavior Biomed Mat (in Press).
• Carver W, Fix E, Fix C, Fan D, Chakrabarti M, Azhar M (2020) Effects of emodin, a plant-derived anthraquinone derivative, on TGF-b1-induced cardiac fibroblast activation an function J Cell Physiol (In Press).
• Fix C, Carver-Molina A, Chakrabarty M, Azhar M, Carver W (2019)  Effects of the isothiocyanate sulforaphane on TGF-beta1-induced rat cardiac fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix interactions.  J Cell Physiol 2019 1-11.
• Almurshidi B, Carver W, Scott G, Ray SK (2019) Role of miRNAs in spinal cord injury and potential therapeutic interventions. Neuroimmunology Neuroinflammation 6:11-21.
• Gazzola WH, Benson RS, Carver W (2019) Meltblown poly-lactic acid nano-webs as a tissue engineering scaffold. Annals Plastic Surg 83:609-610.
• Gao S, Durstine J, Koh H-J, Carver W, Frizzell N, Carson J (2017)  Acute myotube protein synthesis regulation by IL-6 related cytokines. Amer J Physiol Cell  313:C487-C500.

Find Dr. Carver on PubMed»