Biosketch

I am interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying electrically excitable cell network function and connectivity. With a special interest in the communication between heart and brain, we investigate how common channelopathies can lead to network imbalance in both organs and how miscommunication due to autonomic dysregulation can lead to cardiac dysfunction. To investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying infantile epilepsy and sudden cardiac death, we employ human tissue engineering, genome editing and induced pluripotent stem cell technologies. Bioengineered neuronal organoids representing specific regions of the central (cortex, medial ganglionic eminence, midbrain) and peripheral (spinal motor neurons, autonomic neurons) nervous system are some of the human in vitro models we established and utilize to investigate neuron-neuron and neuron-cardiomyocyte cross-talk.