Studying the Role of RNA-Modifying Enzymes in the Development and Progression of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, but the molecular mechanisms that drive cardiomyocyte injury, cardiac remodeling, and heart failure remain incompletely understood. This project aims to investigate the role of RNA-modifying enzymes in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. We will focus on how selected RNA-modifying enzymes, including tRNA-related regulators such as TRMT61A and QTRT1, affect cardiomyocyte stress responses, translational regulation, fibrosis, and cardiac function. The study will use a combination of mouse models of cardiac disease, genetically modified mouse lines, viral-mediated gene manipulation, echocardiography, tissue histology, cardiomyocyte or stromal cell isolation, and molecular assays. Data generated may include animal phenotype records, cardiac functional measurements, histological images, qPCR and Western blot results, sequencing data, and processed analysis files. This project is expected to improve our understanding of how RNA modification and translational regulation contribute to cardiac injury and remodeling, and may provide new insights into potential diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease.