We see molecular bioengineering with targeted gene and drug delivery as a powerful tool for treating and preventing a wide variety of human diseases.
iNOS-KO Gene Therapy
We are developing mouse models to study the impacts of cell-type specific expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on post-MI outcomes. We are leveraging both transgenic mouse models and AAV gene therapy to investigate how knockout of iNOS expression in macrophages and cardiomyocytes changes left ventricular remodeling after MI.
EcSOD Gene Therapy
We previously demonstrated that an AAV-mediated EcSOD gene therapy protected against chronic reperfusion injury post-MI. Currently we are working on improving this therapy by using mutants of EcSOD and incorporating regenerative elements to the therapy. We are using multiscale modeling to help inform our designs.
Heart Model Co-Registration
We are developing 3D cardiac models derived from both CMR and confocal microscopy along with techniques to co-register these models for more detailed 3D mapping and correlation of functional and structural changes with ROS-mediated stress and damage.