Professor
Pediatrics
Our laboratory focuses on understanding the causes of heart disease and on using knowledge of cardiac developmental pathways to devise novel therapeutic approaches for human cardiac disorders. Specifically, we study the molecular events regulating early and late developmental decisions that instruct progenitor cells to adopt a cardiac cell fate and subsequently fashion a functioning heart. We focus on transcriptional and post-transcriptional steps, including those involving microRNAs. We have leveraged this knowledge to reprogram fibroblasts directly into cardiomyocyte-like cells for regenerative purposes. We also seek to identify the causes of human cardiovascular disease by applying modern genetic technologies for the study of complex traits such as congenital heart disease. By using a spectrum of approaches including mouse and human genetics, molecular and developmental biology, and biochemistry we hope to develop a broad understanding of the biology underlying cardiogenesis and cardiovascular disorders.
