The major research interest of the lab is related to the basic understanding of the mechanism of stem cell biology (self-renewal and differentiation) and to the application of adult stem cells for tissue regeneration in cardiovascular diseases. We have focused on the isolation and characterization of adult stem cells with an special interest in understanding the role of epigenetics and epigenomics in the regulation of stem cell fate. Among different sources of adult stem cells special efforts have been dedicated during the last 3 years to studying bone marrow derived Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells (MAPC) and adipose tissue derived stem cells (ADSC).

Besides our interest in understanding basic molecular and genetic mechanism that regulate differentiation and self renewal of adult stem cells, we have focused on the potential of adult stem cells to differentiate into endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes and to contribute to cardiovascular regeneration in animal models of ischemic and cardiac diseases.

The lab has developed acute and chronic models of myocardial infarction in rat, mouse and swine that have been used to examine the contribution of MAPCs, ADSC and skeletal myoblasts to cardiac regeneration and vascular regeneration. The mechanism by which stem cells contribute to tissue repair are an active area of research.

Specific Projects in the Lab include:

1. Cell therapy with bone marrow and adipose derived stem cells in models of acute and chronic myocardial infarction
2. Use of growth factor loaded biodegradable microparticles for the treatment of ischemic diseases in animal models (myocardial infarction and limb ischemia)
3. Genomics and Epigenomics of adult stem cells: high-througput analysis of methylation and histone code in different populations of adult stem cells
4. Role of SDF-1/CXCR4 in muscle regeneration in models of Duchene