Our Research

Targoff Laboratory in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology at Columbia University focuses on leveraging novel zebrafish models of cardiac development and regeneration to facilitate therapeutic interventions for patients with congenital heart defects and/or myocardial disease.

Our current projects include:

  • Deciphering the fundamental transcriptional networks shared in development and regeneration to activate endogenous reparative mechanisms and stimulate cardiac healing.

  • Understanding the cellular, molecular, and biomechanical mechanisms responsible for outflow tract formation.

  • Identifying the key genes and transcriptional factors involved in craniofacial morphology and malformations.

  • Investigating genetic pathways and mechanisms controlled by alternative polyadenylation in the repair of myocardial infarction.

Our Projects

Cardiac Outflow Tract Formation

Craniofacial Development

Cardiac Regeneration

Dr. Targoff is supported by two R01 grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

  1. Mechanisms of outflow tract morphogenesis regulated by extracellular matrix (HL170188).

  2. Mechanisms of myocardial regeneration mediated by Nkx2.5 (HL162989).

Funding