DrMunira Xaymardan

Dr Xaymardan’s research focuses on cardiac muscle homeostasis and regeneration, and embryology (the association between orofacial and cardiac muscle development). Studies on the dentistry-cardiology link include tracking the expression of the cardiac homeobox-containing gene NKX2-5 (with preliminary results suggesting an additional role in orofacial muscle (tongue) development).

Dr Xaymardan has investigated cardiac muscle wound healing, tissue-specific and circulating stem cells, and the role of these stem cells in adult cardiac muscle regeneration. She has studied the role of PDGF and PDGF receptor-alpha in the cardiac homeostasis and regeneration after cardiac muscle injury, and in cardiac muscle development. Overall her research aims to contribute toward the development of novel autologous stem cell-based therapies in cardiovascular diseases. “Research is yet to demonstrate true cardiomyocyte regeneration”, says Dr. Xaymardan “thus far, positive findings are limited to reduced cell death or improved vascular supply. Therefore the quest for real regenerative capability is ongoing”.

In collaboration with Professor Ren_ke Li (University of Toronto, Canada), Dr Xaymardan has developed a novel in vitro model of beating, myogenic cell clusters. The advent of bioprinting techniques means the clustered cells could potentially be used to replace lost cardiomyocytes in vivo and restore cardiac function. Ongoing studies will more fully characterise the myogenic viability, engraftment potential, and function of the beating cell clusters.Her work with Dr James Chong (Sydney Medical School) defining a population of multipotent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like cardiac progenitor cells in the developing adult heart, which are capable of long-term in vitro growth, has important implications for tissue homeostasis and repair.