Research Seminar: “Fishing out a Regenerating Heart with a Vascular Network”
Presented by:
Ching-Ling (Ellen) Lien, PhD
Department of Surgery, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Associate Professor, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Talk Summary:
Heart failure is the leading cause of death globally. Congenital heart disease affects almost 8 out of 1000 newborns. Novel therapeutic interventions are needed to improve the regenerative response of damaged or diseased human hearts and improve heart functions. Zebrafish provide a unique opportunity to study cardiac regeneration since they have the remarkable capacity to regenerate hearts naturally. Our recent focus has been to assess the molecular mechanisms of revascularization during heart regeneration. Heart regeneration at least partially recapitulates the process of embryonic heart development. We have characterized the process and signaling pathways involved in coronary and cardiac lymphatic vessel development. The interactions between these vascular networks and myocardium are essential to create an environment that supports normal heart development and regeneration. Using new genetic, imaging, and bioengineering tools and with inter-disciplinary collaborations, we will further dissect critical factors and signaling pathways involved in heart development and regeneration.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Ching-Ling Ellen Lien obtained her B. S. from National Taiwan University and her Ph.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. Her Ph.D. training is on mouse heart development. She completed her postdoctoral training at Children’s Hospital, Boston and Harvard Medical School where she studied tissue regeneration using zebrafish as a model. Dr. Lien’s research has been funded by NIH R01s, American Heart Association, Wright foundation, and CIRM.
Other Information
Lunch will be provided to seminar guests; first come, first served
Help us save plastic! Bring your own water bottles. Water will be available to fill your bottles.
Brought to you by TSRI Office of Training, Education, Career Planning & Development (TECPAD)
RSVP is Required to tecpad@chla.usc.edu