Specialization
Focus of research
I investigate fundamental mechanisms regulating heart development and disease, with a particular emphasis on how heart rhythm is established at the cellular and molecular levels. I apply expertise in cell differentiation and tissue engineering to generate cardiomyocyte subtypes from human induced pluripotent stem cells and to build integrated tissue models such as cardiac assembloids and neuro-cardiac assembloids that recapitulate key physiological properties of the human heart. These engineered tissues, when combined with advanced molecular and functional assays, including omics, CRISPR screens, and optical mapping, provide a robust human-relevant platform for investigating the interactions of specialized cells that coordinate heart rhythm. We use these systems to model complex rhythm disorders, explore regenerative strategies, and identify mechanisms with potential for therapeutic targeting.