The Bernstein Laboratory

Cardiac muscle cells cease division within weeks of birth. While skeletal muscle retains some capacity for regeneration through recruitment of satellite cells, populations of resident myocardial stem cells are scarce at best. As a result, damaged myocardium has limited if any ability to regenerate.

The goal of the Bernstein Laboratory is to understand mechanisms regulating cell division, and how such processes play a role in cardiovascular biology and disease.

Our current work is focused on:

1. CDC5-mediated control of cell division;
2. the role of cell cycle machinery in post-mitotic cellular responses;
3. mechanisms of cell cycle withdrawal during differentiation; and,
4. characterization and manipulation of myogenic precursor cells.

If you like more information, visit the Bernstein Laboratory Website.