RESEARCH INTERESTS
Our laboratory is interested in developing innovative approaches to regenerate or repair an injured heart. Our goal is to understand the molecular basis of cardiomyocyte specification and maturation and apply this knowledge to improve efficiency and clinical applicability of cellular reprogramming in heart disease. To achieve these goals, we utilize in vivo modeling of cardiac disease in the mouse, including myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac hypertrophy, chronic heart failure and congenital heart disease (CHD). In addition, we take advantage of traditional mouse genetics, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and newly developed reprogramming technologies (iPSC and iCM) to investigate the fundamental events underlying the progression of various cardiovascular diseases as well as to discover the basic mechanisms of cell reprogramming.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
2023-Present: Professor
2018–2023: Associate Professor
2012–2018: Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
McAllister Heart Institute
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
– Ellison New Scholar in Aging
2007–2012: Postdoctoral Fellow
Gladstone Institute for Cardiovascular Disease
University of California, San Francisco
– Roddenberry Stem Cell Biology and Medicine Scholar
– California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Scholar
2001–2006: Graduate/Ph.D. Student
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2003–2006: Visiting Graduate Student
Development and Aging Program
Sanford-Burnham Institute, La Jolla
University of California, San Diego
1997–2001: Undergraduate Student
Life Science School
Fudan University, Shanghai, China
– Chun-Tsung Scholar
HONORS AND AWARDS
| 2016–2020 | Jefferson Pilot Award in Academic Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Outstanding Mentor Award, UNC-Chapel Hill |
| 2016–2018 | McAllister Young Investigator Award, Medical Foundation of North Carolina |
| 2016 | Named “Hometown Hero”, WCHL (affiliate of CBS)/Chapelboro.com |
| 2016 | Boyalife, Science and STM Award in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Science/AAAS |
| 2016 | URC 2016 Publication Award, UNC-Chapel Hill |
| 2016 | Keynote speaker, 7th Annual Translational Medicine Symposium, UNC-Chapel Hill |
| 2016 | Early Career Scientist Travel Award, The Company of Biologists |
| 2014 | 5th Annual NPAW, Featured Postdoc Alumna, Gladstone Institute, UCSF |
| 2014 | MHI/Cardiology 20K Award for Cardiovascular Research, UNC-Chapel Hill |
| 2014 | Junior Faculty Development Award, UNC-Chapel Hill |
| 2013–2017 | Ellison New Scholar in Aging, The Ellison Medical Foundation |
| 2013–2017 | Scientist Development Grant (National), American Heart Association (AHA) |
| 2013 | Featured “Woman in Cardiovascular Health Care”, UNC Social Media |
| 2012 | Top 10 Advances in Heart Disease and Stroke Research (ranked #2), AHA |
| 2012 | Award for Excellence in Science, Gladstone Institute, UCSF |
| 2011 | Louis N. and Arnold M. Katz Basic Science Research Prize for Young Investigator, AHA |
| 2011–2012 | Roddenberry Fellowship, Roddenberry Foundation |
| 2011 | Above and Beyond Award, Gladstone Institute, UCSF |
| 2011 | Travel Award for 2011 International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting |
| 2011 | Travel Award for 2011 Weinstein Cardiovascular Conference, Weinstein Committee |
| 2011 | Award for Exemplary Leadership, Gladstone Institute, UCSF |
| 2010–2011 | Lynda and Stewart Resnick Fellowship, Lynda and Stewart Resnick Foundation |
| 2010 | Above and Beyond Award, Gladstone Institute, UCSF |
| 2009–2012 | California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Scholarship |
| 2003–2006 | American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate Pre-doctor Fellowship |
| 2005 | Graduate Student in Science Focus, The Buzz Newsletter, Burnham Institute |
| 2005 | Top 10 research articles (ranked #4) in Current Biology, CellPress |
| 2003 | Horace H. Rackham School Pre-candidate Fellowship, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor |
| 2002 | Horace H. Rackham School Travel Grant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor |
| 1999–2001 | Chun-Tsung Scholarship (National), Chu Tsung Endowment |
| 1999 | Inchcape HKU China Scholarship, Hong Kong University-Fudan University |
| 1999 | SUMI TOMO Corporation Scholarship (National), SUMI TOMO Corporation |
| 1998 | BaoSteel Corporation Educational Scholarship (National), BaoSteel Corporation |
| 1997–2001 | People Scholarship, Fudan University |
PUBLICATIONS
List of publications from PubMed
