Research
Congenital heart disease is among the most prevalent forms of human birth defects. Our lab seeks to understand mechanisms regulating the development of the cardiovascular system and the processes that go awry in congenital heart disease. We are using genetics, cell biology, and 3-dimensional imaging to uncover signaling pathways and extracellular matrix-mediated communications among progenitors giving rise to the cardiovascular system. Our goals are to uncover cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying congenital heart disease.
Key Focus Areas
I. Regulation of signaling and mechanotransduction by cell-ECM interactions in heart formation
II. Molecular regulation of arch artery morphogenesis
III. Specification and diversification of cardiovascular progenitor cell fates in development and disease
IV. Mechanisms regulating fibronectin fibrillogenesis and matrix formation.