Our Research Mentors

Dr. Churko's laboratory focuses on using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes to model inherited cardiac diseases and develop novel therapeutic approaches. His team employs cutting-edge technologies including CRISPR gene editing and high-throughput drug screening.

Dr. Granzier is a world-renowned expert on titin, the largest protein in the human body and a key determinant of cardiac and skeletal muscle function. His research has provided fundamental insights into muscle mechanics and heart failure mechanisms.

Dr. Sadayappan's research focuses on understanding the role of cardiac myosin binding protein-C in heart function and disease. His laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and develops novel therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Harris studies the molecular mechanisms of cardiac muscle contraction, with a focus on how mutations in myofilament proteins lead to cardiomyopathies. Her laboratory uses biophysical and biochemical approaches to understand heart function at the molecular level.

Dr. Thatcher's research program focuses on the development of novel small molecule therapeutics for cardiovascular and neurological diseases. His laboratory combines medicinal chemistry with pharmacology to create new drug candidates.

Dr. Li's laboratory investigates cardiac ion channels and their role in normal heart rhythm and arrhythmias. Her research has important implications for understanding drug-induced cardiac toxicity and developing safer therapeutics.

Dr. Kazui combines clinical expertise in cardiothoracic surgery with basic science research. His laboratory focuses on improving outcomes in heart failure patients through translational research in cardiac surgery and mechanical support devices.

Dr. Hamilton studies calcium signaling in the heart, with a focus on how abnormal calcium handling contributes to arrhythmias and heart failure. Her research aims to identify new therapeutic targets for cardiac diseases.

Dr. Thorne's laboratory investigates Wnt signaling pathways in cardiac development and regeneration. His team uses high-throughput screening approaches to identify compounds that can promote heart repair after injury.

Dr. Romanoski uses genomic and computational approaches to understand the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease. His laboratory integrates large-scale data to identify novel genes and pathways involved in heart and vascular biology.

Dr. Liao is a physician-scientist whose research focuses on vascular biology and endothelial function. His work has contributed to our understanding of how blood vessels respond to injury and how atherosclerosis develops.