About

Victor Barocas is a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. His research group explores the relationship between tissue architecture and mechanics through a combination of multiscale computational models and innovative mechanical experiments. His work emphasizes the importance of studying biological systems at various scales, from molecules to cells to tissues, to understand biomechanics and mechanobiology effectively. The group investigates how macroscopic information is communicated to individual cells and how cellular responses contribute to tissue function and dysfunction. His current research focuses on understanding the remodeling, growth, and failure of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms, as well as how spinal load affects the facet capsular ligament, leading to injury or pain. Additional research areas include cell motility during tumor metastasis, fibrotic lung disease, and vibrotactile perception by the hand. Dr. Barocas holds a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He has received notable honors such as the 2022 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Robert M. Nerem Medal for Education and Mentorship and is a Fellow of both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Biomedical Engineering Society.

Research topics

• Anatomy
• Biology
• Medicine
• Physics
• Pathology
• Internal medicine
• Computer Science
• Biological system
• Artificial Intelligence
• Materials science
• Biophysics
• Neuroscience
• Bioinformatics
• Cardiology
• Statistical physics
• Biomedical engineering
• Chemistry
• Cell biology
• Radiology
• Biochemistry
• Mathematics

Selected publications

• Alterations in ascending aortic hemodynamics and aortic length correlate with sex-specific thoracic aortic aneurysm dilation and lifespan in a mouse model of severe Marfan syndrome

  Computers in Biology and Medicine · 2026-03-02

  articleOpen access

  Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a dilation of the aorta that may eventually dissect and/or rupture. It is associated with genetic disorders such as Marfan syndrome (MFS) and is a life-threatening cardiovascular condition if left untreated. Current clinical guidelines for TAA management are primarily based on maximum diameter thresholds that are often inadequate, particularly in MFS patients. Moreover, the diameter thresholds are not sex-specific, despite growing evidence that TAA outcomes in MFS are influenced by sex. The aim of this study was to identify non-invasive biomarkers for better management of TAA using male and female mice that are a genetic model of severe MFS and their littermate controls. Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations were performed to assess aortic geometry, hemodynamics, and wall mechanical stresses during TAA progression (as measured by aortic dilation) and outcomes (as measured by mouse lifespan). Oscillatory shear index (OSI) correlated significantly with TAA progression in males, but not females, while time averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) correlated significantly with TAA progression in females, but not males. Endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP), a metric that combines OSI and TAWSS, was significantly correlated with TAA progression in both sexes and had the strongest correlation with lifespan of all hemodynamic metrics. The geometric metric of aortic elongation ratio (AER) (i.e. length) also had strong correlations with TAA progression and lifespan in male and female mice. This study demonstrates that hemodynamic and geometric metrics hold promise as non-invasive biomarkers for personalized management of TAA in MFS.

  PublisherDOI

• Feasibility of Zero-Dimensional-Model-Based Pulse Waveform Analysis as a Tool to Detect Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Growth

  Journal of Biomechanical Engineering · 2026-02-06

  articleSenior author

  Patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAA) only have a 10-20% chance of survival upon aneurysm rupture. If aneurysm growth is detected, however, surgical repair can mitigate the rupture risk. Current computed tomography (CT)- and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based surveillance methods require frequent hospital visits, increasing healthcare costs and reducing patient adherence. Pulse-based measurements, which could eventually be performed at home, are an attractive but poorly explored alternative. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using frequency analysis of the pulse waveform to determine whether the ATAA radius or wall stiffness has changed. We first determined a correction to the standard zero-dimensional (0D) model for blood flow through curved vessels, using fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) modeling as ground truth. We then studied idealized ATAA geometries and found that changes in the size of an aneurysm led to consistent changes in the Fast Fourier Transform of the outlet pressure waveform. Furthermore, when the vessel stiffened and grew, these changes were detectable by comparing the low versus high frequency response of the outlet pressure. Similar trends were observed for FSI simulations based on retrospective study of longitudinal scans of a patient over 5 years. This study showed that analyzing the pulse waveform, as clinically measurable by surface tonometry, has potential to form the basis for an at-home method for detecting ATAA growth.

  PublisherDOI

• Geometric and mechanical changes along the length of the porcine aorta

  Journal of Biomechanics · 2026-05-10

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Benchtop Pulse Wave Velocity Measurement From Spatial Wavelength Rather Than Pulse Arrival Time: Feasibility Studies

  Journal of Biomechanical Engineering · 2026-02-28

  articleSenior author

  Arterial stiffness is a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease, commonly assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV). Traditional PWV measurement methods, such as time-of-flight, become unreliable in highly reflective systems due to the presence of standing waves and measurement noise, complicating accurate determination of wave arrival times. To address these limitations, we developed and validated a spatial wavelength-based PWV measurement approach. Our objective was to evaluate the capability of this method in nonbiological systems and compare its performance directly to standard methods. Experimental measurements were conducted using latex tubes in a benchtop pulsatile flow system across multiple frequencies (20-47 Hz). High-speed video analysis tracked spatial diameter changes, allowing identification of the spatial wavelength. Computational fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations, replicating experimental conditions, provided validation. Measuring PWV via spatial wavelength showed consistent accuracy when compared to traditional methods (phase-slope, peak-slope, and pressure arrival time), remaining within 12% error relative to theoretical predictions derived from the Moens-Korteweg equation. Spatial wavelength-based calculation has practical limitations, including reduced reliability near resonant frequencies and the requirement for at least one full wavelength within the length of measured region, constraining clinical usability. This method can be used in laboratory conditions at higher frequencies, potentially allowing quantification of how vascular implants and prosthetics could alter arterial wall dynamics.

  PublisherDOI

• Inverse finite element identification of murine aortic material properties: <i>in vivo</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> comparisons

  Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering · 2025-07-31

  article

  material property estimates. Findings from two material models (neo-Hookean and four-fiber family) were compared and all data has been provided as a benchmark for future inverse FE studies.

  PublisherDOI

• A continuum model for tissues with moderate cell density

  Computers in Biology and Medicine · 2025-08-30

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Biomechanical Variation of the Vessel Wall Along the Length of the Healthy Aorta—Linking Geometric, Flow-, and Pressure-Mediated Adaptations

  Journal of Biomechanical Engineering · 2025-11-03

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The aorta, the largest artery in the body, exhibits anisotropy and heterogeneity along its length. Over the past several decades, researchers have characterized the positional differences in various geometric and mechanical properties such as wall thickness, diameter, extracellular matrix composition, mechanical properties, opening angle, and axial stretch. These regional adaptations arise in response to various biochemical and mechanobiological stimuli, helping the vessel maintain efficient and resilient blood flow. Early studies, often limited to canine models and uniaxial testing, laid the groundwork for recognizing how composition and mechanics vary with location. Subsequent efforts broadened into comprehensive investigations that included parameters such as wall thickness, diameter, opening angle, and axial stretch, employing diverse animal models and, more recently, human samples. Technological advances in experimental and computational methods have deepened our understanding of these spatial variations, underscoring the aorta's critical role in overall cardiovascular function and its vulnerability to conditions like aneurysms and atherosclerosis. This review seeks to consolidate and interpret these diverse studies on region-specific geometry and mechanics of the aorta, examining how spatial variations arise and how they support normal circulatory function. Further, we argue that any model of aortic growth and remodeling in disease should be able to predict the observed property variation with position in healthy individuals.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Ascending aortic aneurysm growth in the Fbln4SMKO mouse is consistent with uniform growth laws

  Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology · 2025-07-21 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Arterial growth and remodeling (G&amp;R), in response to biomechanical stimuli, plays a pivotal role in vascular health. Disruptions in G&amp;R, often seen in conditions such as aneurysms and atherosclerosis, can lead to pathological changes and pose significant health risks. Assessing risk should not only consider the current state of the aneurysm but also how it develops over the subsequent months. Herein, we make a controlled, subject-specific assessment of maladaptive aortic tissue growth using data previously obtained for the Fbln4 SMKO mouse model. The computational model uses a locally applied continuum G&amp;R approach coupled with fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulations. Ten mice were studied, exhibiting varying degrees of aneurysm formation over time. This investigation focused on the ascending aorta, where aneurysms develop in the Fbln4 SMKO mouse. A continuous G&amp;R model was tuned and evaluated using information from 2, 4, and 6 months obtained from CT scans. A G&amp;R model with uniform growth laws showed variable accuracy in predicting circumferential growth across different mice, exhibiting both under- and over-estimations compared to in vivo measurements. Modeling prediction showed to be improved by multiple-domain modeling. There is correlation between (1) the fitted circumferential growth time constants and the observed ascending aorta Young’s modulus and (2) the fitted axial growth time constant and the tortuosity index. Furthermore, the ratio of the circumferential growth time constant to the circumferential stress correlated with mouse lifespan more strongly than diameter change, suggesting that analysis of a G&amp;R model may be valuable in predicting risk of aneurysm rupture.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Low-Cost Shear Wave System for Ex Vivo Regional Mechanical Characterization of Planar Soft Tissues

  2025-04-30

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Shear wave elastography is a rapidly growing technique to determine material properties of soft tissues. Many of the existing devices used to initiate wave excitation in tissues of interest involve a cost that is prohibitive for experiments. Our study designed and developed a comparatively low-cost actuator and driver system to generate shear waves in ex vivo tissue specimens on the benchtop, so as to expand the current capabilities and applications of wave propagation elastography. The device features a solenoid that creates a magnetic force on a magnet connected to the actuator arm, driving the shear motion. Out-of-plane motion is minimized by two ortho-planar springs. The motion resulting from the driver system was captured by high-speed video and was analyzed using digital image correlation (DIC). The device was tested on ex vivo porcine aortic wall. The calculated wave speed was compared to the expected wave-speed based on uniaxial characterization. While the wave speed in the axial direction was lower than the circumferential direction, as expected, the measured wave speed was lower than the predicted value for both tissue orientations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Calcification-neighboring regions of atherosclerotic aortic tissue exhibit elevated stiffness without elevated radiodensity

  Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials/Journal of mechanical behavior of biomedical materials · 2025-04-23 · 1 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Protein-to-Tissue Model of Glomerular Mechanobiology

  NSF · $424k · 2013–2017

• NIH Grant R21GM082823

  NIH · $444k · 2010

• NIH Grant R21EB009788

  NIH · $389k · 2013

• NIH Grant R01EY012291

  NIH · $196k · 2001

• Multidisciplinary training in cardiovascular engineering

  NIH · $1.2M · 2019–2025

Frequent coauthors

• Robert T. Tranquillo

  University of Minnesota

  40 shared

• Edward A. Sander

  University of Iowa

  29 shared

• Rouzbeh Amini

  Northeastern University

  29 shared

• Yoav Segal

  University of Minnesota

  27 shared

• Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos

  24 shared

• Mohammad F. Hadi

  22 shared

• Spencer P. Lake

  Washington University in St. Louis

  21 shared

• Beth A. Winkelstein

  University of Pennsylvania

  20 shared

Labs

• Tissue Mechanics LaboratoryPI

Awards & honors

• 2022 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Robert M. Nere…
• Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society