The Norris Lab

What is Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

VEDS is a rare, severe genetic disorder that causes very fragile tissues and a high risk for severe bleeding and internal injuries.

October is designated as Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) Action Month to raise global awareness of the condition, share personal stories, and drive action toward earlier diagnosis and better care.

Share your story or your solidarity below ❤️

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The Norris Lab at the FEBS 2026 Conference on extracellular matrix in health and disease, structural dynamics, cell cell communication, and microbiome cross talk.

Subscribe to our Substack newsletter to read more about their research & conference presentations at thenorrislab.com/blog

Research on connective tissue mast cells is being continued at the Norris Lab following a summer project, spearheaded by HIP mentor Amy Weintraub and HIP mentee Ellie Graham this summer 🧪🌞

When people say hEDS & co are not real or they’re just “trendy”, show them these.

Many patients with hEDS and HSD experience mild to severe neurological symptoms. Comment below if any of these resonate or add to the list! 🧠

Living with hEDS and dealing with pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or hands? New research is looking at why.

A study published September 4 in Annals of Vascular Surgery focused on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) in people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. TOS happens when the nerves or blood vessels running between your collarbone and first rib get squeezed.

The researchers looked at:
- How TOS shows up in people with hEDS
- Believed cause of symptom onset
- How patients did after surgery
- What the outlook and treatment options look like

TOS symptoms are easy to overlook or brush off, especially in people juggling several chronic conditions. Research like this helps patients and clinicians make better-informed decisions about care.

Research on mast cell and fibroblast interactions may be an important puzzle piece for understanding the mechanisms behind hypermobile EDS & MCAS. This project was spearheaded by HIP mentor Roman Fenner, MD-PhD candidate, and HIP mentee Rachel Miller this summer 🦓

Research on shoulder capsules of people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is underway. This project was spearheaded by HIP mentor Dr. Baylee Westbury and HIP mentee Brynn Lenz this summer 🧫