Areas of investigation/research focus

We employ systems-focused approaches to decipher the complex cellular processes underlying organ (heart, brain, skeletal muscle) development with the aim of defining novel therapeutic strategies. Inputs from developmental biology are exploited to identify novel drug targets in cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscle cells, neurons, and stromal cells for organ protection and repair.

Tissue engineering enables us to build three-dimensional culture systems with organotypic structure and function. Recognition of essential cell and organ cross talk (e.g. heart and brain) mechanisms promises the identification of novel disease modifying targets.

The availability of stem cells from individual patients as well as the engineering of patient phenocopies create the opportunity to devise novel pharmacological, gene-based, and cell-based approaches for individualized treatments in patients with heart failure, skeletal muscle disease, and neurological disorders.