Principal investigator
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Rutgers University
599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
My current research focuses on mechanisms of gene regulation in stem and progenitor cells using integrative approaches combining cellular and molecular engineering, developmental biology, genomics, and animal models. My long-term objective is to develop effective gene therapies for the treatment of injuries in the central nervous system using the knowledge gained from the basic studies. This research has been my passion since I began my doctoral work with Richard Nowakowski at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and postdoctoral work with Connie Cepko at Harvard Medical School. As a Research Associate at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School, I have developed novel mathematical/statistical methods for the analysis of genome-wide data generated with DNA microarray and SAGE. As a principal investigator at Rutgers, my lab has contributed to the understanding of neural development and diseases. Not only has my research led to discoveries of important mediators and improved understanding of gene expression programs in neural development and in injured CNS, but it has also been innovative with high potential for clinical translation. Over the years, I have successfully administered projects funded by the NIH, NSF and New Jersey state focusing on neural development and SCI research. Thus, I have the expertise, leadership, training, and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the proposed research project.
Publications
Awards & Distinctions
- 1998 Annual Dissertation Award, Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools, USA and Canada
- Busch Biomedical Research
- 2023 Training in Neurotherapeutics Discovery and Development for Academic Scientists (NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research) at UC Davis