Our Research Members

Somatic cell reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells requires the expression of 2-4 key transcription factors. We have demonstrated that the piggyBac transposon-based transgene delivery system combined with tetracycline inducible gene expression can be used to reprogram cells with a comparably high efficiency to viral transduction, both from mouse and human somatic cells. Unique properties of our transposon-based system form the foundation for exploring the plasticity of the ß-cell. Using a transgenic reprogrammable mouse line, we are exploring the possibility expanding, differentiating and trans-differentiating cells of the pancreatic lineage in a whole organism context and ex vivo. T his research aims to take a giant leap forward in the understanding of the cellular plasticity of ß-cells and the development of novel tools for bringing efficient cell-based therapies to the future of medicine.

My research lab is primarily interested in the area of genetics of lipid disorders and cardio-metabolic disorders with special emphasis on high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism. We use transgenic/knock out mice as models and our tools include in vivo experiments, ex vivo and in vitro assays at tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. We are particularly interested in using in vivo mouse models to examine the impact of specific genetic-based dyslipidemic states on atherogenesis, diabetogenesis and more recently, obesity and brown fat development. Detailed analyses of these animal models using cellular, molecular and genetic markers will also be carried out to elucidate the underlying mechanism of such disease processes and their interactions. Such genetic models are also used to study the effects of dietary and drug interventions.

– Generation of pancreatic beta cells from human pluripotent stem cells
– Cell therapy for type I diabetes
– Modeling lineage commitment and human development in vitro
– Using human pluripotent stem cell-derived pancreatic cells as a platform for drug screening

We are investigating how diabetes affects vessel formation (angiogenesis and arterio-venous specification) and its implications in tissue engineering for regenerative medicine. Moreover, we are investigating the direct effects of diabetes and diabetes-related drugs on crdiovascular health including human stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte organoid models.