Consultant

• Sep 2022 - Present

I offer advice and training on muscle biology methods and experimental design I offer advice and training on muscle biology methods and experimental design

Assistant Professor of Biomedicine

• Aug 2021 - Present

Adult stem cells support normal tissue turnover and can mount a regenerative response following acute injuries. In many tissues, like skeletal muscle, brain, and blood, populations of adult stem cells enter the quiescent state and withdraw from the cell cycle for prolonged periods of time. We study how adult stem cells regulate the quiescent state, using muscle stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells as main model systems. One part of the lab studies the role and regulation of stem cell… Show more Adult stem cells support normal tissue turnover and can mount a regenerative response following acute injuries. In many tissues, like skeletal muscle, brain, and blood, populations of adult stem cells enter the quiescent state and withdraw from the cell cycle for prolonged periods of time. We study how adult stem cells regulate the quiescent state, using muscle stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells as main model systems. One part of the lab studies the role and regulation of stem cell quiescence in disease models. Do adult stem cells contribute to pathogenesis can they counter it? what happens if we interfere with their ability to enter or exit the quiescent state? A second part of the lab studies the role and regulation of stem cell quiescence during homeostasis and healthy aging. Finally, a third part of the lab studies naturally occuring adaptations in order to learn how others species overcome certain challenges that often lead to medical problems in humans. By studying different model organisms, we also hope to uncover new mechanisms of stem cell function. Show less Adult stem cells support normal tissue turnover and can mount a regenerative response following acute injuries. In many tissues, like skeletal muscle, brain, and blood, populations of adult stem cells enter the quiescent state and withdraw from the cell cycle for prolonged periods of time. We study how adult stem cells regulate the quiescent state, using muscle stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells as main model systems. One part of the lab studies the role and regulation of stem cell… Show more Adult stem cells support normal tissue turnover and can mount a regenerative response following acute injuries. In many tissues, like skeletal muscle, brain, and blood, populations of adult stem cells enter the quiescent state and withdraw from the cell cycle for prolonged periods of time. We study how adult stem cells regulate the quiescent state, using muscle stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells as main model systems. One part of the lab studies the role and regulation of stem cell quiescence in disease models. Do adult stem cells contribute to pathogenesis can they counter it? what happens if we interfere with their ability to enter or exit the quiescent state? A second part of the lab studies the role and regulation of stem cell quiescence during homeostasis and healthy aging. Finally, a third part of the lab studies naturally occuring adaptations in order to learn how others species overcome certain challenges that often lead to medical problems in humans. By studying different model organisms, we also hope to uncover new mechanisms of stem cell function. Show less

Affiliate

• Jul 2021 - Present

Instructor

• Feb 2018 - Jul 2021

Research: I direct a team of postgraduates to understand how tissues regenerate, with the aim of improving tissue healing in aging and disease. Using muscle as a model we develop assays to study how muscle stem cells function in the body and treatments to improve their function. Our work led to two competitive research awards and five peer-reviewed articles Teaching: I create and teach courses in communication to help scientists, engineers, and students show the importance of their work.… Show more Research: I direct a team of postgraduates to understand how tissues regenerate, with the aim of improving tissue healing in aging and disease. Using muscle as a model we develop assays to study how muscle stem cells function in the body and treatments to improve their function. Our work led to two competitive research awards and five peer-reviewed articles Teaching: I create and teach courses in communication to help scientists, engineers, and students show the importance of their work. Currently I am developing and teaching courses in resilience and compassion to help scientists deal with rejection, adversity, and difficult situations

Postdoctoral Scholar

• Feb 2011 - Jan 2018

Stem cells offer immense potential for therapeutics. However, we don’t understand how they work inside the body. Muscle stem cells rebuild muscle upon injury, but otherwise stay in a dormant state called quiescence. We developed assays to label native transcripts in the body to identify which genes are active and understand how cells regulate quiescence. Surprisingly, the dormant cells express many transcripts that are important during differentiation, showing that these cells are poised for… Show more Stem cells offer immense potential for therapeutics. However, we don’t understand how they work inside the body. Muscle stem cells rebuild muscle upon injury, but otherwise stay in a dormant state called quiescence. We developed assays to label native transcripts in the body to identify which genes are active and understand how cells regulate quiescence. Surprisingly, the dormant cells express many transcripts that are important during differentiation, showing that these cells are poised for activation. For example, we found they express MyoD RNA but prevent its translation via Staufen1. Reductions in Staufen1 led to increased MyoD protein and cell activation. One gene that does turn on after injury is Deltex2. Without Deltex2 injured muscles grow bigger quicker. This shows that blocking Deltex2 might be a therapy to help muscle recover faster from injury. Deltex2 ubiquitinates Jmjd1c preventing it from activating MyoD transcription. Finally, we developed a 3D bio-printed niche together with defined nutrients to keep human muscle stem cells potent in a dish for one week. This enabled genetic modification and transplantation into mice as a model of stem cell therapy. Techniques: Muscle stem cell isolation; Mouse genetics; Mouse breeding; Muscle stem cell transplantation; Proliferation assays; Clonal expansion assays; In vitro ubiquitination; Ubiquitin pulldown; Structure modeling; Target site prediction; In vitro transcription; In vitro translation; Luciferase assays; ChIP-PCR; Single cell RNAseq analysis with Seurat; Capillary western; Single cell western; Single molecule FISH; Northern blot; Bacterial protein production; Taq preparation; His purification; TU capture PCR; EU capture PCR; Single cell PCR; Digital PCR; Confocal microscopy (Array Scan);

Instructor

• Apr 2021 - Present

I teach online courses in Resilience. Check out this free webinar: https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/building-resilience-webinar I teach online courses in Resilience. Check out this free webinar: https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/building-resilience-webinar

Associate Editor

• Feb 2015 - Present

Reproducibility is key to science. However, methods sections in journals often lack space for all of the details that make an experiment reproducible. BioProtocol is an online repository of protocols and enables scientists to share their protocols to ensure reproducibility of their results. I oversee the reviewing process and select which protocols will fit in the journal. Reproducibility is key to science. However, methods sections in journals often lack space for all of the details that make an experiment reproducible. BioProtocol is an online repository of protocols and enables scientists to share their protocols to ensure reproducibility of their results. I oversee the reviewing process and select which protocols will fit in the journal.

Consultant

• Jul 2021 - Jul 2022

I offered advise on its fledgling fascioscapulohumoral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) program. I offered advise on its fledgling fascioscapulohumoral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) program.

Editorial board member

• Dec 2011 - Oct 2015

As editorial board member I deal with incoming submissions, supervise the peer review process, and write editorial commentaries. As editorial board member I deal with incoming submissions, supervise the peer review process, and write editorial commentaries.

PhD student

• Nov 2005 - Jan 2011

My Thesis work explored protein networks as an possible underlying cause of a heterogeneous group of muscle diseases called Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. The work included the supervision of 1 undergraduate student, 3 postgraduate students, and 2 technicians. Methods learned: Immunohistochemistry; Western blot; Rt-pcr; DNA and RNA extraction; IF staining; In vitro ubiquitination; Structure homology and structure prediction; Protein motif analyses; Mass spectrometry; Text analyses… Show more My Thesis work explored protein networks as an possible underlying cause of a heterogeneous group of muscle diseases called Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. The work included the supervision of 1 undergraduate student, 3 postgraduate students, and 2 technicians. Methods learned: Immunohistochemistry; Western blot; Rt-pcr; DNA and RNA extraction; IF staining; In vitro ubiquitination; Structure homology and structure prediction; Protein motif analyses; Mass spectrometry; Text analyses and data mining; GST-pulldown; Recombinant protein production; VHH library production and antibody fragment selection Show less My Thesis work explored protein networks as an possible underlying cause of a heterogeneous group of muscle diseases called Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. The work included the supervision of 1 undergraduate student, 3 postgraduate students, and 2 technicians. Methods learned: Immunohistochemistry; Western blot; Rt-pcr; DNA and RNA extraction; IF staining; In vitro ubiquitination; Structure homology and structure prediction; Protein motif analyses; Mass spectrometry; Text analyses… Show more My Thesis work explored protein networks as an possible underlying cause of a heterogeneous group of muscle diseases called Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. The work included the supervision of 1 undergraduate student, 3 postgraduate students, and 2 technicians. Methods learned: Immunohistochemistry; Western blot; Rt-pcr; DNA and RNA extraction; IF staining; In vitro ubiquitination; Structure homology and structure prediction; Protein motif analyses; Mass spectrometry; Text analyses and data mining; GST-pulldown; Recombinant protein production; VHH library production and antibody fragment selection Show less

Intern, Masters student

• Aug 2004 - Mar 2005

I participated in ongoing research into the molecular mechanisms of Type I Diabetes. Specifically, I fractionated sera from newly diagnosed Type I Diabetes patients, and identified potential novel biomarkers, and effectors of the disease. Techniques learned: Protein extraction; HPLC I participated in ongoing research into the molecular mechanisms of Type I Diabetes. Specifically, I fractionated sera from newly diagnosed Type I Diabetes patients, and identified potential novel biomarkers, and effectors of the disease. Techniques learned: Protein extraction; HPLC

Intern, Masters student

• Aug 2003 - Aug 2004

I participated in an existing research program into the molecular mechanisms of insect lipoprotein (lipophorin) biosynthesis and transport. Specifically I cloned and helped characterize an enzyme that aids in lipoprotein loading. These results were published in the journal of lipid research. Techniques learned: Molecular cloning; lipoprotein fractionation; western blot I participated in an existing research program into the molecular mechanisms of insect lipoprotein (lipophorin) biosynthesis and transport. Specifically I cloned and helped characterize an enzyme that aids in lipoprotein loading. These results were published in the journal of lipid research. Techniques learned: Molecular cloning; lipoprotein fractionation; western blot