Our Research
The Sheikh Lab focuses on better understanding the pathways driving biomechanical stress responses in cardiac muscle as they are major triggers for human genetic-based cardiac diseases.
- Major efforts have centralized on mutations affecting the complexes at the cardiac muscle cell-cell junction that drive the devastating “athlete’s” heart muscle disease, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), that results in sudden death.
- The lab exploits genetically engineered mouse models, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from human patients, miniaturized physiological assays, yeast-two-hybrid screens, aligned cardiomyocyte mouse models, co-culture devices, specialized cardiac extracellular matrix coatings, 3-D printing, and other in vitro model systems.
- The lab collaborates with prominent clinicians in the genetic cardiomyopathy as well as investigators in the engineering and chemistry departments.
In this manner, the lab is developing a comprehensive understanding of the complex role for the cell-cell junction network and its requirement for optimal cardiac function both in vitro and in vivo.
Spotlight News in Lab
Sheikh Lab Farewell Dinner
Sheikh Lab had one last dinner to celebrate Aryanne's work in the lab for the past five years. We will miss you so much. Good luck in medical school!
Kyohei receives the 2023 UCSD Schulman Award
Congratulations to our postdoctoral fellow, Kyohei Fujita, for receiving the 2023 Schulman Award for Outstanding Cardiovascular Research!
Sheikh Lab Goes Skydiving
What better way to send Aryanne off on her new journey in medical school than being sent off a plane 13,000 ft in the air.
Aryanne gets into medical school
Congratulations to Aryanne for getting to medical school! She will do wonderful things in the future. Have as much coffee as you want during school!!
Sheikh Lab Christmas Party
The Sheikh Lab celebrated Christmas by going out to dinner and playing White Elephant!
Sheikh Lab Welcome Lunch
The Sheikh Lab went out to Farmer and the Seahorse to welcome our two new postdoctoral fellows. Welcome Matthew and Afaf!!
Farah Sheikh
Professor of Medicine
University of California-San Diego
Associate Editor, Life Sciences
Health Sciences Faculty Equity Advisor
Interested in Joining the Lab?
We are open to potential postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, undergraduate students, and volunteers.
For more information, click here