Additional photos
H&E staining of embryonic chick heart
Cagatay demonstrating ligation
Current Projects
Title: Noninvasive manipulation of embryonic development through focused laser microablation
Description: Congenital heart defects are highly common, and often very serious, yet only a small number of clinically observed cases (approximately 10%) can be traced to a genetic deficiency. How cardiac morphogenesis is altered in these epigenetic cases is poorly understood, but is likely related to simultaneous misexpression of many genes that are coordinated in this complex process. The focus of this project is to create epigenetic models of congenital heart defects by mechanically perturbing embryonic development. We use two different techniques to achieve this. We use microsurgery to band or ligate developing cardiac structures to shift hemodynamic patterns in the heart and monitor downstream morphogenesis and cell fate. In collaboration with Professor Chris Schaffer (BME, Cornell), we noninvasively image deep into developing embryos with two photon laser microscopy. We further can occlude and shunt localized regions of the developing hearts using focused ultrahigh frequency laser pulses. These noninvasive approaches enable unique ways of creating and studying consequences of clinically relevant congenital heart defects.
Research Thrusts
- Mechanical Regulation of Embryonic Valvulogenesis
- Developmental Redux of Adult Valve Disease
