Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Neurosciences
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
Dr. Eduardo Rosa-Molinar is an interdisciplinary scientist whose research integrates cell biology, neuroscience, imaging science, spectroscopy, instrumentation, method and reagent development, and quantitative image analysis to study synapses—the specialized connections that enable neurons to communicate. His work focuses on elucidating the three-dimensional nanoscale geometry, molecular diversity, and chemical organization of these connections. His group integrates multi-scale, multi-modal imaging with analytical techniques, including micro–X-ray fluorescence (µXRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy, to advance metallomics in synapse research. Through academic, industry, and cross-disciplinary collaborations, the lab integrates structural, molecular, and elemental data to better understand the complexity of neural communication. Dr. Rosa-Molinar is also committed to mentoring and to inclusive workforce development. He trains students, postdoctoral researchers, and technical staff to work across disciplines, emphasizing scientific rigor, collaboration, a sense of belonging, and career advancement in interdisciplinary research.

Key words

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Molecular mechanisms of liver injury and regeneration

Key words
liver; regeneration; alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency; liver disease; aflatoxin; acute liver failure; cell cycle; mouse models; epigenetics; metabolism

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
Computational and Systems Biology

Research summary

Key words
retina development, epigenetics, histones

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Control of germline stem cells and meiotic development in C. elegans

Key words
germ cells, C. elegans, genetics, development, functional genomics

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Neurosciences
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Interactions between the nervous system and the skeleton

Key words
bone, diabetes, nerve, neuropathy, neuroskeletal biology, obesity, metabolism, adipose tissue, adipocyte, high-resolution imaging, advanced quantification, RNAseq, regeneration, healing

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by inflammation

Key words

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
We use zebrafish as a model for human hearing and balance with the goal of protecting and repairing inner ears from damage.

Key words
zebrafish, sensory neuroscience, hearing, balance, synaptic physiology, regeneration

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Focused on injury, repair, and regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues with the goal to understand the progenitor cell population, signals, and role of inflammation on tissue injury and regeneration at the cellular and molecular level

Key words

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Immunology
Neurosciences

Research summary
My research program integrates cardiovascular physiology, stem cell biology, developmental biology, functional genomics, and cardio-oncology to investigate molecular mechanisms of congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases. My laboratory specializes in developing innovative protocols for generating authentic cardiovascular cell types from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), advancing cardiovascular precision medicine. We aim to bridge basic science and clinical translation through disease modeling, therapeutic target identification, and adverse outcome prevention.

Key words
iPSC, CRISPR, organoid, cardiovascular, precision medicine, cardio-oncology

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Neurosciences

Research summary
Genetic analysis of neural and muscular development in the Drosophila embryo

Key words
development, neurobiology, cell signaling