Epigenetic Regulation of Somatic and Stem Cell Plasticity

Stem cells have unique properties of self-renewal and differentiation. Molecular and cellular insights into stem cell fate have the potential to impact a broad range of human diseases and disease modeling. While cellular differentiation is unidirectional in human development, recent studies have demonstrated plasticity of differentiated state to immature stem cell state.
My lab is addressing the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for cellular plasticity of somatic cells towards establishment of pluri/multipotent state and subsequently, tissue regeneration. Our central and long-term research interest focuses on developing and applying innovative epigenetic approaches to stem cell biology and regeneration with an emphasis on translational medicine. Our team integrates expertise in epigenetics, signaling pathways and stem cell biology to address these questions.

Particularly, my lab pursues the areas of basic human stem cell biology to identify:

• How cell fate is acquired and maintained 
• The role of methyl/demethyl transferases in cellular de/transdifferentiation and
• Characterization of signaling pathways that intersect with chromatin modulators to govern such cell fate decisions. 

We actively collaborate with Drs. Jamora and Palakodetti lab to investigate questions pertaining fibroblast plasticity and post-transcriptional regulatory networks in cell fate determination.