Juan-Manuel González-Rosa

Juan-Manuel González-Rosa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Boston College, where he leads a research program focused on heart development and regeneration. He utilizes zebrafish as a model organism to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern cardiac repair, with particular interest in fibrosis, inflammation, and polyploidy.

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
• Postdoctoral training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
• Faculty member at Boston College since June 2019

His research centers on understanding why the human heart has limited regenerative capacity compared to zebrafish, which can fully regenerate their hearts after injury. His lab investigates how polyploidization in cardiomyocytes limits regeneration and aims to identify therapeutic targets for promoting heart repair after myocardial infarction. Using genetic tools and injury models in zebrafish, his team studies cardiac and liver regeneration, extracellular matrix dynamics, and molecular pathways of tissue repair.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in regenerative biology, particularly in modeling organ injury and repair in zebrafish. Key themes include the development of cryoinjury models for heart and liver, analysis of collagen dynamics in fibrotic remodeling, and the use of genetic tools like CRISPR for targeted cardiomyocyte manipulation. These studies span developmental biology, molecular cardiology, and translational regenerative medicine.

Scientific awards and recognitions include:

• EMBO Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Funds for Medical Discovery Award from ECOR-MGH
• American Heart Association Career Development Award

Dr. González-Rosa has secured competitive funding to support his research program, enabling his lab to pursue fundamental questions in cardiac regeneration. While current information does not list specific advisees, his role as a principal investigator suggests active mentorship of graduate and undergraduate researchers. His work contributes to broader efforts in regenerative medicine and has implications for treating heart disease in humans.

His lab is involved in developing and applying innovative zebrafish models for organ regeneration and transplantation research, positioning his team at the intersection of developmental biology, cardiovascular science, and biomedical innovation.