Basic Cardiology Research
Identifying Molecular Clues of Heart Disease
Basic laboratory research in BIDMC's Division of Cardiovascular Medicine focuses on stem cell research and regenerative medicine to better understand cardiovascular and metabolic disease as well as investigations to identify the genetic, molecular and functional determinants that underlie heart disease.
Asnani Lab
Aarti H. Asnani, MD
Aarti H. Asnani, MD, is the Director of the CVI's Cardio-Oncology Program and a basic and translational researcher. The main focus of Dr. Asnani's lab is to define the molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy-associated heart toxicity, with the goal of targeting these pathways therapeutically in patients.
Kang Lab
Peter Kang, MD
Research interests in the Peter Kang laboratory focus on studying the molecular mechanisms of cardiac apoptosis and developing novel anti-apoptotic applications in cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, we are developing. These include the development of peroxide, the most abundant form of reactive oxygen species produced during reperfusion injury, to be used in cardiovascular therapeutics and bio-imaging.
In other research areas, the Kang lab has shown that Vitamin D therapy prevents the progression of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in animal models. The lab is investigating the molecular mechanism of cardiac dysfunction associated with Vitamin D deficiency and examining the potential role of Vitamin D therapy in the treatment of heart failure. In collaboration with other investigators, the lab has also identified novel VDR agonists and are studying these novel compounds for clinical applications.
Nath Lab
Anjali K. Nath, PhD
The Nath lab works at the interface of human genetics and chemistry. We systematically identify connections between genes and the human biology they regulate by integrating human multi-omic datasets. The purpose of these analyses are to determine the function of understudied genes and to identify novel drug targets. We then use chemical biology tools in combination with zebrafish genetic models to dissect the molecular mechanisms of these associations and identify lead compounds. Our overarching goal is to develop small molecules that modulate the activity of cardiometabolic disease-associated genes.
Schmaier Lab
Alec Schmaier, MD, PhD
Alec Schmaier, MD, PhD, is a member of the Section of Vascular Medicine and Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Schmaier’s research focuses on the interplay of endothelial cell biology and thrombosis and how they predispose to cardiovascular disease. Specific projects include endothelial membrane alterations that promote coagulation on the vessel wall, regulation of the Tie2-angiopoietin pathway for therapeutic intervention in vascular disease, platelet-derived vascular mediators, and mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and thrombosis in COVID-19.