Our Research


Our Research Mission

Research Mission


Current scientific work in our laboratory

Overall research focus in our laboratory is to study the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases and develop novel therapeutic strategies to limit the disease and promote regeneration and repair. On-going work includes:

1. Basic mechanism of cardiac remodeling and structural alterations during stress or injury

2. Mental health and its influence on heart disease

3. Exosome role in cardiac disease and therapy

4. Diabetes and its risk for cardiovascular disease

5. Cardiovascular injury during sepsis/endotoxemia


Influence of mental health on cardiovascular disease

Brain-heart crosstalk

Mental health influences the overall wellbeing and function of the vital organs in the body. Mental health disorder has been increasing at an alarming rate. Mental health disorders such as depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders etc increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases. There is strong clinical evidence of depression and cardiovascular comorbidity, however there is a significant knowledge gap when it comes to identifying the mechanisms driving cardiac disease in patients with depression. Our RNA-sequencing and molecular analyses has identified novel mediators that might be driving the risk of heart disease during depression.

Our recent study has revealed cardiac glycosaminoglycans and structural alterations during chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior in mice. The study is published in peer-reviewed American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. Link for the full article: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00635.2020