Author Profile: James Hayes

We chose Cytoskeleton for overall fit, a fair review process, and communicative editors. Our lab studies a diverse range of topics from the basic assembly of contractile systems in cells, the mechanisms that govern heart contractility and morphogenesis, and the use of novel extracellular vesicles as intracellular delivery systems. Certainly the primary investigators I have worked under, especially David Nelson at MTSU and Dylan Burnette at Vanderbilt, but also my pre- and post-doctoral colleagues in various labs over the years, of which there are too many to mention here. This answer certainly changes with the seasons but currently the cell type-specific contributions to the structural remodeling of the heart are very interesting to me. Also, heart regenerative research. I think the field needs more people than it has now even, with cardiovascular disease exhibiting such diverse etiology and being so common worldwide. I love to play and write music, and to spend time outdoors with my wife and son. Probably some light travel and lots of quality time spent with friends and family. Dolly Parton comes to mind! I try to keep those mostly empty—right now just my phone with credit cards/ID! Drink a tall glass of water and take my dog on a walk.