Mary K. Kearns-Jonker

Mary K. Kearns-Jonker, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Cancer, Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program. She holds a PhD from McGill University and completed postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health. Her research focuses on stem cell-based therapies for organ failure, including xenotransplantation and cardiovascular progenitor cell applications. Notably, her lab investigates the effects of microgravity and spaceflight on stem cells, aiming to advance regenerative medicine for Earth and space exploration.

Education:
- PhD in [field unspecified], McGill University
- Postdoctoral Training: Immunology Branch, NIH

Research Interests:
- Cardiovascular progenitor cells and regenerative therapies
- Xenotransplantation and immunological tolerance
- Space biology and stem cell responses to microgravity

Recent Articles Trends:
- Dominant themes include spaceflight effects on cardiovascular progenitors, transcriptomic analysis in microgravity environments, and biomaterials for tissue engineering.
- Key focus areas: YAP1 signaling, extracellular vesicles, and in vivo repair mechanisms.

Grants & Service:
- Active grants include projects on cardiovascular stem cells and tissue engineering.
- Leadership roles: Co-Director of the Cancer, Developmental & Regenerative Biology Program.
- Committee memberships: Institutional Biosafety Committee Chair, Grad Council.

Labs/Teams:
- Leads a multidisciplinary team studying space-based regenerative medicine and cardiovascular repair.