Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey

One main focus of my lab is to design paradigms for embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell based repair of cardiac and skeletal muscle defects using mouse models of human disease (thin myocardial syndrome, cardiomyopathy, muscular dystrophy). Another focus is to study paracrine non-myocardial factors in Id KO embryos/mice, a model of congenital heart disease and adult fibrotic cardiomyopathy. The ultimate goal is to identify cardiotrophic and myotrophic factors with rescue potential. Recently, we have established a human iPS cell core facility, for generation of cardiomyocytes and other cell types.