University of California-San Diego · EngineeringEngler Lab
Adam J Engler · La Jolla, California
Research Focus
Adam Engler's lab focuses on understanding how mechanical properties at the cellular level affect the aging of heart muscle cells. By using innovative engineering techniques, the lab investigates how changes in cellular structures contribute to heart function over time, particularly looking at the connections between the nucleus and the heart's contractile components. This research aims to develop methods to restore function in aging hearts, potentially improving health and longevity.
agingcardiac healthmechanogeneticsDrosophilasarcomere functionnuclear mechanicsheart failuretranscription factors
Research Aims
2AIM 01Investigate age-related changes in the structural connections between nuclei and sarcomeres in heart cells.
AIM 02Develop methods to test if mechanical exercise can restore gene expression in aging hearts.
Skills the Lab Values
mechanical testingatomic force microscopyRNA sequencingcell culturefluorescent in situ hybridizationgenetic manipulation in Drosophiladata analysisbiological assays
Output against the department
Publications254top 34% of dept.94th of 278
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations36ktop 7% of dept.20th of 278
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.