Molecular Regulation
of Cardiac Plasticity
The Martin Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate adaptive and maladaptive cardiac remodeling using cells, mice, and human heart tissue. We also study molecular adaptations in species with unique cardiac phenotypes to gain insight into mechanisms of plasticity and inform human health.
FEATURED PROJECT
The Evolution of Cardiac Stress Resilience
Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight and display among the most remarkable cardiac functional reserves in the animal kingdom to support this activity. We are studying the physiological and genetic mechanisms that bats evolved with to survive daily extreme spikes in cardiac stress without developing heart failure.
FEATURED PROJECT
Alternative RNA Splicing in Heart Failure
Alternative splicing enables a single gene to produce diverse protein isoforms with specialized functions. Dysregulated alternative splicing is associated with many human disease, including heart failure. We are studying how alternative splicing in heart failure remodels cardiomyocyte protein interaction networks and contributes to cellular and organ dysfunction.
