Irina V. Larina

Irina V. Larina, Ph.D. is a Professor and Kyle and Josephine Morrow Endowed Chair at Baylor College of Medicine, affiliated with the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. She leads the Larina Lab, which focuses on developing and applying innovative optical imaging methods to study mammalian embryonic development, particularly in the areas of reproductive biology and cardiovascular development.

• Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
• Kyle and Josephine Morrow Endowed Chair
• Principal Investigator of NIH R01-funded projects

Dr. Larina received her Ph.D. from University of Texas Medical School at Galveston in 2005, followed by advanced training at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. Her educational background also includes an MS from Saratov State University in Russia (1996).

Her research spans multiple disciplines at the interface of developmental and reproductive biology, optical engineering, and computational modeling. The Larina Lab specializes in live embryo manipulation protocols, mouse models of congenital defects, and state-of-the-art functional optical coherence tomography technology combined with confocal microscopy and advanced computational analysis. They develop innovative optical imaging methods to study dynamic functional aspects of developmental and reproductive disorders.

Dr. Larina's work has resulted in numerous publications in high-impact journals including Optica, Cell Reports, Development, and Biomedical Optics Express. Her research trends focus on in vivo imaging of mammalian reproductive processes, embryonic cardiac development, and ciliary function in the reproductive tract.

• 2022 Michael DeBakey Excellence in Research Award
• Elected Fellow of Optica Society/OSA (2021)
• Multiple NIH R01 grants (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Editor's Pick in Biomedical Optics Express (2023)

Dr. Larina has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. Her lab has secured significant grant funding, including multiple NIH R01 awards for projects on in vivo imaging of mammalian fertilization, cilia function in the fallopian tube, and maternal polysubstance exposure effects on fetal brain microvessels. She has established strong collaborations with researchers across Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions.

The Larina Lab maintains a vibrant research environment with current members including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and research instructors. They have developed specialized imaging techniques and protocols for live embryo manipulation and have made significant contributions to understanding cardiac development, congenital defects, and reproductive processes through innovative optical approaches.