海角禁区

Our mission:

Our lab aims to identify new regulators of lipoprotein metabolism and understand their role in modulating lipid levels in blood, with the goal of improving the diagnosis of inherited lipid disorders and uncovering new drug targets to help prevent heart disease.

Our motivation:

In the bloodstream, lipids (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) are transported in complex particles called lipoproteins, which have an intricate metabolic processing in the body. It is well established that elevated lipoprotein levels in the blood are a major cause of cardiovascular disease, a condition characterized by the buildup of cholesterol plaques in the arteries. Despite recent advances in cholesterol-lowering treatments, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide. Therefore, a thorough understanding of lipoprotein metabolic processes is essential for preventing cardiovascular disease.

Several key regulators of lipoprotein metabolism have already been identified. However, strong evidence suggests that our understanding remains incomplete. For example, the genetic cause cannot be identified in nearly half of individuals who show clinical signs of inherited lipid disorders. In addition, many patients with elevated blood lipoproteins either do not respond to existing therapies or cannot tolerate them. These challenges urge the identification of new genes and proteins that regulate lipoprotein metabolism.

Our work:

To address these challenges, our lab uses CRISPR-based gene discovery platforms integrated with cell-based assays, molecular biology techniques, high-resolution microscopy, and in vivo models. By finding and characterizing novel modulators of lipoprotein metabolism, we aim to expand the spectrum of genetic targets for diagnosing inherited lipid disorders and lay the groundwork for next-generation therapies to prevent cardiovascular disease.