Measuring Strength Where It Matters Most
At the Center for Cardiovascular Genetics and Gene Diagnostics of the Swiss Foundation for People with Rare Diseases in Schlieren-Zurich, Switzerland, research is driven by equal parts scientific rigor and human urgency. Research Associate Dr. Janine Meienberg and Biomedical Analyst Valeria Turco work at the intersection of diagnostics and discovery, focusing on rare inherited connective tissue disorders that weaken the aorta and, in the most severe cases, put lives at constant risk.
Their work centers on conditions such as vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS) and Marfan syndrome (MFS), diseases that often go undetected until a catastrophic vascular event occurs. What motivates them isn’t only biology, it’s the people behind the mutations.
One project, they recall, began as a request from a patient who simply wanted to help save their family’s lives.
That moment crystallized the lab’s mission: to translate genetic insight into meaningful, testable therapies.
Turning Complex Genetics into Clear Measurements
For those unfamiliar with this field, Janine and Valeria describe their work in refreshingly tangible terms. Using murine models, they recover five aortic segments from each animal and measure the maximum force the tissue can withstand before rupture. This allows them to directly compare healthy versus diseased tissue, as well as treated versus untreated samples at the level of individual vessels.
This approach became especially powerful after a suitable mouse model for vEDS was identified. Originally developed almost by accident in another research group, the model ultimately proved too closely to mimic human disease. With it, Janine and Valeria could finally quantify something clinicians care deeply about but rarely get to see aortic integrity itself.
To do this, the team relies on three DMT Tissue Puller systems , which enable them to test small, delicate aortic samples in liquid while achieving highly reproducible results.
When Results Challenge Assumptions
Some of the lab’s most important contributions came from results that didn’t match expectations.
Losartan, a drug often discussed in the context of inherited aortic diseases, showed no beneficial effect on aortic rupture force in vEDS mice. Even more surprising, in MFS models, losartan reduced aortic diameter but still failed to improve rupture strength.
Perhaps most unexpectedly, the team observed that drug efficacy varied depending on the manufacturer, a finding with real implications for both research reproducibility and clinical translation.
From the Bench to the Bigger Picture
The broader goal of this research is clear: expand therapeutic options for patients with inherited aortic diseases, especially through drug repurposing. By identifying existing, market-approved drugs that can increase aortic rupture force, the path from bench to bedside could be dramatically shortened.
Looking ahead five to ten years, Janine and Valeria hope to:
- Test additional drugs for their effects on aortic strength
- Investigate new candidate genes linked to aortic phenotypes
- Continue collaborating with international teams to validate findings across models
Their work sits at a rare and valuable crossroads where diagnostics inform research and research feeds directly back into diagnostics.
Overcoming the Hard Parts
Progress didn’t come easily. One of the biggest early challenges was finding an objective, reliable readout system that could truly distinguish between healthy and diseased aortas. Another was navigating the bureaucratic complexity of animal study approvals, a reality familiar to many researchers.
The breakthrough came with the identification of the tissue puller approach as the right solution.
Why the DMT Tissue Puller Matters
When asked what stands out about their DMT equipment, the answer is immediate and practical:
- Ease of use – an intuitive, almost “rustic” start/stop operation
- Flexibility – compatible with pins, clamps and various tissue sizes
- Small-sample capability – ideal for murine aorta
- Reproducibility – robust data with low numbers of animals
- Liquid testing – essential for physiological relevance, enabled by the DMT 560TP
For Janine and Valeria, the value isn’t just convenience, it’s confidence in the data.
Pride, Perseverance and Advice for the Next Generation
What they’re most proud of isn’t a single publication or dataset, but the fact that their work meaningfully contributes to a small but critically important patient population one that often lacks both visibility and treatment options.
Their advice to aspiring researchers is simple, honest and hard-earned:
- Be innovative. Don’t be afraid to develop new methods when existing ones fall short.
- Be persistent. As Valeria puts it: “Never give up. Overcome the challenges you face.”
In a field defined by fragile tissues and high stakes, Dr. Janine Meienberg and Valeria Turco are building something resilient: a framework for understanding, measuring and ultimately strengthening the vessels that matter most.