Harvard University · BiologyThe Mitochondrial Heart Lab
Richard T Lee · Cambridge, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Richard T Lee's lab at Harvard University focuses on understanding the role of mitochondria and specific proteins in heart function and heart diseases, particularly cardiomyopathy. The lab uses advanced gene editing techniques to investigate mitochondrial DNA mutations and their effects on heart muscle cells, as well as the signaling roles of growth differentiation factors in heart health. This research aims to uncover crucial mechanisms that could lead to new therapies for mitochondrial diseases and heart-related conditions.
mitochondrial gene editingcardiomyopathyhuman cardiomyocytesgrowth differentiation factorsCRISPRheart diseasecell signaling
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the effects of mitochondrial DNA mutations in human cardiomyocytes using gene editing.
AIM 02Explore the regulatory roles of growth differentiation factors in cardiac function.
AIM 03Determine specific signaling pathways activated by GDF11 and GDF8 in regulating cardiac growth.
Skills the Lab Values
CRISPR technologygene editingcell culturemouse modelsfunctional assaysbiochemical assaysRNA extractionPCRWestern blotting
Output against the department
Publications935top 2% of dept.19th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations51ktop 5% of dept.51st of 1,033
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.