My work is focused on two distinct aspects of cardiac function. The first project focuses on the dedifferentiation of adult cardiac myocytes. We have recently identified a novel protein that induces adult myocytes to dedifferentiate to a neonatal, proliferative phenotype. Elucidating the signaling pathways involved and identifying inhibitors of this process promise to significantly advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction. The second project in my laboratory is aimed at elucidating the effects of cannabis on cardiac health. We have recently shown that cannabis users are protected from death following MI. However, a prospective project examining the effects of cannabis consumption on cardiac rate and rhythm suggests that people with pre-existing cardiac disease may have an increased risk of arrhythmias following cannabis use. We have an ongoing clinical study as well as basic science efforts into the mechanisms of cannabis induced changes in vascular and cardiac contractility. I will be serving as a cardiology mentor for the 2018-2019 academic year.