Overview

Our work is funded by the NIH and USF Health. In addition to these agencies, our lab has received funding from the American Heart Association and the March of Dimes, as well as other funding sources.

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Current Funding

MicroRNAs, cardiac function and cardiomyopathy (NIH)

The goal of this study is to define the functional role and molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate cardiac gene expression, function and related cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy.

Epsin in Angiogenesis and Vascular Remodeling (NIH)

The goal of this study is to use epsin conditional double KO mice to characterize epsin function in angiogenesis and vascular remodeling.

Molecular mechanisms of dystrophic cardiomyopathy (NIH)

The goal of this study is to define the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiomyopathy that is associated with muscular dystrophy.

CD45-mediated endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cardiovascular disease (NIH)

The goal of this study is to study CD45 that controls the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition — a biological process that facilitates development of atherosclerotic lesions and  accelerates destabilization of plaques, resulting in heart attacks and stroke.

Mechanisms regulating VEGF receptors in diabetic angiogenesis (NIH)

The goal of this study is to understand the cellular mechanisms behind VEGFR2/3 loss and activation of FoxO1 in regulating blood vessel damage in diabetes

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Previous Funding

Therapeutic applications of miRNAs in myocardial and cardiac regeneration (NIH)

The goal of this study was to define the therapeutic applications of cardiac expressed miRNAs during cardiac infarction and stress induced remodeling.

Molecular mechanisms of dilated cardiomyopathy (NIH)

The goal of this study was to determine the molecular nature of dilated cardiomyopathy using CIP, a novel nuclear protein expressed in developing and adult hearts.