Email: mdczr@nus.edu.sg

My research interest is focused on developing novel treatment for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by in-depth understanding of the roles of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in disease developments. In particular, I’m interested in a group of ECM molecule, glycosaminoglycans, which are highly-charged unbranched polysaccharides comprises mainly chondroitin sulfate (CS) and heparan sulfate (HS).

GAGs were identified to accumulate in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), where a myriad of symptoms were found in the cardiovascular system. My previous study identified that in non-MPS patients with heart failure, CS accumulated in fibrotic cardiac tissue. Using an FDA approved drug for MPS patients, we discovered modifying CS in vivo was effective in preventing as well as reducing fibrosis and inflammation in rodent models of HF. These studies suggested CS is a novel target for treating CVDs.

Our latest investigation discovered that eliminating one of the CS synthase genes in vivo abolished all signs of coronary artery remodeling in mice with hypertension. Since blood vessel remodeling is the underlying cause of many CVDs, these results inspired strong interest in further pursing the research about the role of CS in blood vessel pathology.  My goal is to develop novel therapeutics for reversing vascular remodeling, to prevent or rescue the subsequent CVDs such as hypertension and heart failure by targeting the CS pathway.