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Professor Thomas Brand serves as Chair in Developmental Dynamics at Imperial College London's National Heart & Lung Institute within the Faculty of Medicine. His research spans cardiac development, ageing, and molecular mechanisms of heart function. Affiliated with the Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Biology and Cardiac Function research groups, he maintains active roles in both basic science and translational cardiology initiatives. His research focuses on three interconnected domains: (1) Proepicardium development into epicardium and coronary vasculature, (2) Left-right asymmetry establishment in embryonic heart morphogenesis, and (3) Popeye domain-containing (POPDC) proteins as novel cAMP effectors regulating cardiac pacemaking and stress adaptation. Recent work reveals POPDC proteins' critical roles in membrane trafficking, ion channel modulation, and arrhythmia pathogenesis through interactions with Nav1.5 channels and TREK-1 potassium channels. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals dominant research streams: 78% focus on cardiac molecular mechanisms (particularly POPDC proteins), 15% on plant pathology collaborations (boxwood blight, root rot), and 7% on organoid technology. Key trends include increasing emphasis on cAMP compartmentalization (33% of cardiac papers), translational electrophysiology (27%), and cross-disciplinary horticultural pathology (20%). His work bridges developmental biology with clinical cardiology through innovative models including zebrafish, cardiac organoids, and multi-year field trials. As a referee, Professor Brand contributes to major journals including Circulation , Nature Genetics , and Development , while serving grant review panels for the Wellcome Trust, MRC, DFG, and Royal Society. His laboratory maintains strong international collaborations evident in multi-institutional publications and German field studies.

• Cardiac Development
• Cardiac Ageing
• Heart Morphogenesis
• +6 more

Ravi P. Misra, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Associate Provost for Accreditation and Program Development at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). He holds a BA in Microbiology from Rutgers College (1979) and a PhD in Biochemistry from New York University School of Medicine (1988). His postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School focused on growth factor regulation of c-Fos proto-oncogene expression. His research centers on understanding transcriptional mechanisms governing cardiac and vascular development, particularly the role of Serum Response Factor (SRF) in cardiogenesis and coronary vasculature formation. His lab investigates SRF’s role in coordinating gene expression for sarcomeric function, vascular smooth muscle differentiation, and proepicardium-derived cell contributions to coronary vessels. He has pioneered mouse transgenic models to study embryonic gene regulation and cardiovascular defects. Dr. Misra’s work addresses congenital heart defects’ molecular bases, including how SRF dysregulation leads to hypertrophy and embryonic lethality. His lab also explores proepicardium-derived vascular stem cells and enhancer elements critical for vasculogenesis. His contributions span developmental biology, molecular genetics, and translational cardiovascular research. Grants and collaborations are inferred from his publication record, though specific funding details are not provided. His lab’s focus on SRF underscores its significance in both basic science and potential therapeutic applications for heart disease.

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Cardiovascular Development
• +4 more

Marek Kujawa serves as Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Warsaw and Lazarski University (since 2018), currently holding the position of Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for Preclinical Education. His academic career spans over five decades with continuous contributions to preclinical medical sciences. His educational foundation includes: Graduate of the Faculty of General Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw (1972) Doctorate from the Institute of Biostructure, Medical University of Warsaw (1980) Dr. Kujawa's research centers on basic medical sciences , with pioneering work in cell biology and experimental oncology . His investigations into embryonic development and cancer therapeutics have established significant understanding of hematopoietic system formation, muscle response to immobilization, and novel cancer treatment mechanisms. His methodological expertise in electron microscopy and stereology underpins his experimental approach. Analysis of his 2012-2018 publications reveals consistent focus on developmental biology (particularly cardiovascular/lymphatic systems) and innovative cancer therapies targeting cellular stress pathways. His work demonstrates sophisticated integration of mouse embryology models with clinical applications in respiratory diseases and oncology. His distinguished recognition includes: Gold Cross of Merit by the President of Poland (2012) Medal of the National Education Commission (2009) Fogarty International Center Scholarship (1987) Polish Anatomical Society Award (1981) Polish Society of Histochemists Award (1975) Ten Rector's Awards from Medical University of Warsaw Dr. Kujawa has secured significant research funding including the NCBiR grant for bone regeneration implants (2012-2014), KBN and IP grants for cancer cell therapy (2007-2015), and his own embryonic stem cell project (2001-2005). His international collaborations span institutions in Italy, USA, and Poland. As founding member of the Polish Stereological Society and active participant in multiple anatomical and histochemical societies, he maintains strong research networks. His laboratory work integrates embryogenesis studies with cancer therapeutics across Medical University of Warsaw's Department of Immunology and international partner institutions.

• Cell Biology
• Experimental Oncology
• Embryology
• +3 more

Ravindra P. Misra is a Professor with Tenure in the Department of Biochemistry at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he also serves as Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He maintains affiliations with the Cancer Center and the Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work. Dr. Misra has held progressively responsible academic positions since joining MCW in 1993, advancing from Assistant Professor to his current senior administrative and faculty roles. Dr. Misra's research program has focused primarily on the role of serum response factor (SRF) in cardiovascular development, particularly in coronary vasculogenesis. His work employs sophisticated mouse genetic models to investigate how transcription factors regulate embryonic development of the coronary vasculature. Additional research areas include calcium crystal-mediated cell activation pathways relevant to age-related diseases. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding the mechanisms by which SRF regulates endothelial cell function, cardiac morphogenesis, and vascular development through both gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches. Analysis of Dr. Misra's publication record shows a consistent research trajectory spanning over 30 years, with early work focused on molecular mechanisms of SRF regulation and more recent work emphasizing coronary vascular development. His publications appear in high-impact journals including Developmental Biology, BMC Developmental Biology, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, with many papers receiving substantial citations (several with over 100 citations). His research demonstrates a progression from basic molecular mechanisms to increasingly complex developmental processes, reflecting both scientific maturation and the evolution of techniques in the field. National Research Service Award, Predoctoral Training, National Institutes of Health (1982-1985) Outstanding Medical Student Teacher Award, Medical College of Wisconsin (2008-2014) Alpha Omega Alpha, Medical College of Wisconsin Chapter (2013-Present) Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship, American Cancer Society (1991-1993) Dr. Misra has successfully secured substantial research funding throughout his career, including multiple NIH R01 grants totaling over $2 million, American Heart Association awards, and institutional funding. His mentorship record includes guiding students like Timothy J. Nelson and Stephanie Cossette to independent research funding. As Dean of the Graduate School, he now oversees broader training programs while maintaining his research connections through affiliations with the Cancer Center and genomic sciences center. His extensive committee service across MCW demonstrates deep institutional involvement and leadership in academic medicine.

• Cardiovascular Development
• Coronary Vasculogenesis
• Serum Response Factor (SRF) Gene Regulation
• +4 more