James F Martin

James F Martin is a Professor and Vice Chairman at the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, with dual appointments as Director of the Cardiomyocyte Renewal Laboratory at the Texas Heart Institute. His research focuses on developmental and regenerative pathways in cardiovascular biology, particularly the Hippo, Wnt, and Bmp signaling mechanisms.

• Education: BS from Fordham University, MD/PhD from University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Postdoctoral Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center

His work spans congenital heart disease, cardiac regeneration, and single-cell genomics, with a strong emphasis on translating discoveries into therapies for heart failure and arrhythmias. Recent studies employ spatial transcriptomics and machine learning to decode spatially resolved gene regulatory networks in post-injury hearts.

Key trends in his publications include Hippo pathway inhibition for cardiomyocyte proliferation, Pitx2's role in atrial fibrillation, and the interplay between developmental genetics and adult tissue repair. His methods have broad applications in spatial transcriptomics and precision medicine.

• Scientific Award: Vivian L. Smith Chair in Regenerative Medicine

He leads a collaborative team at Baylor and Texas Heart Institute, pioneering regenerative therapies using gene editing and computational biology. Funding includes long-term NIH grants on Hippo/Wnt signaling (HL127717) and Pitx2 in arrhythmias (HL118761), alongside AHA/EH pediatric heart transplantation research.