Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
My clinical and research interests focus on fetal and neonatal surgical conditions that remain associated with high morbidity and mortality. In particular, my lab addresses these conditions by studying the biology of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are membrane-bound nanoparticles released by all cells for intercellular communication. EVs carry bioactive cargo, including RNA, DNA, proteins, and lipids, making them powerful tools for both regenerative medicine and diagnostics. Our research leverages EVs to promote fetal lung growth in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and to mitigate bowel inflammation in gastroschisis. Additionally, we are exploring the diagnostic potential of the EV cargo in conditions such as brain damage secondary to necrotizing enterocolitis and neuroinflammation in spina bifida. Our work spans in vivo animal models, in vitro organ explant and organoid cultures, and a range of advanced techniques, including PCR, Western blotting, immunostaining, EV isolation and characterization, RNA sequencing (single-cell and spatial) and transcriptomic analysis.