Disease modelling

For cardiac disease modelling, the group specialises in

• developing technologies for high efficiency in situ cardiomyocyte differentiation and maturation from human stem cells in 2D and 3D to mimic cell microenvironments,
• developing genetic strategies (dCas9 CRISPR optogenetics) to modulate transcriptional networks involved in exaggerating or minimising disease phenotypes, and,
• creating 3D bioprinted models of diseased tissues incorporating tissue and genetic engineering.

These novel approaches help to better understand the mechanism of diseased cell in cardiac conditions and provide a platform for testing drugs, thus serving an unconventional ‘bench to clinic to bench’ approach towards improving disease outcomes.

We work on a range of molecular and functional phenotyping tools like advanced microscopy (Confocal, calcium, fluorescence imaging), genetic engineering (CRISPR, optogenetics, single cell cloning), molecular biology (spatial gene expression, RNA sequencing), metabolic assays (Seahorse assays), materials (nanofibers) and electrophysiology (microelectrode array, patch clamp), internally and through our external collaborations within UK and abroad.