User:Jayanthi Jayakumar
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Department of Biological Engineering jayanthi@mit.edu
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Hi! This website is for my 20.109 class, Laboratory Fundamentals of Biological Engineering.
Module 3 Project Proposal (work in progress)
Project Title
Growth of cardiac stem cells and the preservation of their characteristics in vitro.
Background Information
Cardiac diseases are one of the most common diseases in the world. This is especially problematic because heart failures are one the leading causes of death [2]. Chronic high blood pressure and heart attacks are widespread disorders that affect a wide range of people. These disorders cause irreparable damages to the heart tissue, eventually leading to heart failure. Unfortunately, the human heart does not have a mechanism to regenerate damaged heart tissues. Researchers in the past have used embryonic stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells to try to regenerate these tissues. However, none of these seem to be as successful as expected. With the recent discovery of cardiac stem cells, the opportunity to induce regeneration of damaged heart tissue using the body's own cells is promising.
Project Overview
The goal of this project is to grow and sustain cardiac stem cells (CSCs) while maintaining their characteristics in vitro. The purpose of developing the CSCs is to eventually transplant them to the heart and induce their differentiation into the appropriate cardiac cell type. This will help to regenerate the damaged heart tissue. There are specific advantages to using CSCs. Since they are cells from the heart, they are compatible with the damaged heart tissue, leading to the increased likelihood of regeneration.
Research problem
(Predicted Problems)
- Isolation of CSCs
- Optimization of growth conditions
- Transplation of CSCs in vivo
Details and Methods
Predicted Outcomes
References
Puceat, Michel. Pharmacological approaches to regenerative strategies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Italic textCurrent Opinion in PharmacologyItalic text (2008), Bold text8:Bold text189-192.
Segers, Vincent F, and Lee, Richard T. Stem-cell therapy for cardiac disease. Italic textNatureItalic text(2008), Bold text451:Bold text937-942.
Singh, Sanjay K, et al. REST maintains self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Italic textNatureItalic text (2008), 1-7.
Tousoulis, Dimitris, et al. Heart regeneration: what cells to use and how? Italic textCurrent Opinion in PharmacologyItalic text (2008), Bold text8:Bold text 211-218.
Research Interests
- Cardiac Research
- Cancer Research
Education
Shaker High School 2006
MIT ~ Biological Engineering 2010
Publications
~Hopefully coming up soon!!!
Useful links
Registration/Questionnaire: 20.109 Spring 2008
Last Name
Jayakumar
First Name
Jayanthi
Preferred name
Jayanthi
Course/Minor
Major: Biological Engineering
Minor: Biology
Year of Graduation
2010
Telephone #
518-301-1834
jayanthi AT mit DOT edu
Have you taken any of these classes?
7.05/5.07 (Biochemistry)
7.06 (Cell Biology)
7.02 (General Biology Lab)
5.310 (General Chemistry Lab)
I am taking 7.05 this semester.
Do you have any experience culturing cells (mammalian, yeast or microbial)?
Yes. I have expereince culturing Bone Marrow Derived Cells and hybridomas.
Do you have any experience in molecular biology (electrophoresis, PCR, etc)?
Yes. I have some experience doing gel electrophoresis.
Please briefly describe any previous laboratory experience
I have been working at the Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies for a little more than a year now.
The goal of my project is to target deliver iron oxide nanoparticles for theraputic purposes in cancer treatments.
Anything else you would like us to know?
I absolutely love working in my lab and I am really looking forward to learning a lot from this class.
