Quang Dang
DPhil Student
My research investigates the mechanisms of cardiac regeneration by focusing on the epicardium—the essential cell layer encasing the mammalian heart. Epicardial cells, highly active during embryonic development, become largely dormant in adulthood through quiescence, a state of temporary cell cycle arrest that presents a key barrier to the heart's regenerative capacity. My approach combines single-cell genomics with computational biology to map the transcriptional heterogeneity of these cells and define their underlying gene regulatory networks. The ultimate goal is to identify key pathways that can be modulated to awaken the heart's latent regenerative potential and promote repair. More broadly, I aim to push the boundaries of this field by constructing large-scale single-cell atlases, creating foundational resources to comprehensively interrogate cardiac biology and uncover new therapeutic avenues.