DSCB Spring Coloquium:

The Burns' clab uses the zebrafish as a genetic model organism to understand cardiac progenitor/stem cell biology during vertebrate development and regeneration.Our studies are largely aimed at understanding how cardiovascular progenitor cells become established during development and later differentiate into the proper cellular lineages. We also use the amazing regenerative capacity of zebrafish to dissect the cellular and genetic mechanisms regulating new cardiomyocyte production following adult heart injury. Through these studies we anticipate discovering new genetic pathways and cellular processes required to drive cardiomyogenesis, which may be integral for informing the development of improved preventative and therapeutic technologies