Rafael Dariolli

I am a biologist with a wide repertoire in cell and molecular biology, mainly stem cells and cardiac cells, cardiac physiology, pathophysiology, and genetics of cardiovascular diseases. During my master's and doctoral studies, I developed and improved protocols for pluripotent stem cell generation and cardiomyocyte differentiation. I also generated animal and cell models using DNA endonuclease manipulation (TALEN and CRISPR). Later, during my postdoctoral research, I was introduced to cardiomyocyte electrophysiology, mathematical modeling, and Systems Physiology and Pharmacology. At the same time, I have been working for 16 years on developing regenerative therapies for the treatment of ischemic heart diseases. In this part of my training, I established small and large animal models to simulate ischemic diseases such as myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, heart failure, and acute and chronic kidney disease. In addition, I specialize in imaging, analysis, and interpretation of heart disease through echocardiography. I am currently Principal Researcher and Coordinator of the Departments of Pre-Clinical Therapeutics and Scientific Communication at PluriCell Biotech, developing therapies with human cells to treat cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. I am also a senior postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Pharmacological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, NY, USA, working on Dr. Sobie's team. Together, we have been integrating experimental and mathematical models to study cardiotoxicity and proarrhythmic drug risk, cardiac tissue stability, and other clinically relevant conditions. In addition to current research lines in Dr. Sobie's laboratory, I am developing predictors for the study of the maturation of hiPSC-CMs based on these cells' molecular and electrophysiological characteristics. In addition, I am testing innovative methods to improve the maturation of in vitro generated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)