https://www.ward-lab.org/home-test-4 daily 1.0 2020-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1588624512051-4MMQTDWWVASSUKI8S8C2/Ward_Lab_cardiovascular_functional_genomics.png Home https://www.ward-lab.org/people daily 0.75 2026-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1588632671821-WDO7GRS1K6TIRK1W9KJL/Picture2.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1596666725677-K9AVWTLYE5I26IUDVCQN/Jose2.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/7711c988-83bd-4c96-be29-54f7c9672fc5/Renee.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/fca03183-0fa2-4f97-9eeb-ed36c2cb30fc/Emma_new_edit.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/e13ea18e-4e36-46c6-92f5-b773c7642bb4/John4.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/f2975766-caf4-4940-a9f3-3849b1b0796c/Samuel3.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/56bb30a2-e462-4285-bc93-e32b7a35fdf3/Aly_edit.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/0210d0ca-ac35-411b-b929-d14d01dde334/Eduardo_edit.png https://www.ward-lab.org/publications daily 0.75 2026-02-16 https://www.ward-lab.org/contact daily 0.75 2025-06-01 https://www.ward-lab.org/research daily 0.75 2020-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1588624833601-EC69643WY8TF7UYDRN2K/Ward_Lab_research1.png Research - 1) Gene regulatory dynamics during differentiation to cardiovascular cell types Global gene regulatory networks and mechanisms, and their evolutionary robustness, are not fully understood in complex processes such as development, especially in humans and other primates. In vitro cellular differentiation assays across species allow for the study of gene regulatory cascades from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to intermediate germ layers, and terminal cell types. The regulation of, and by, transposable elements in this process is of particular interest to us. This research area will lead to insight into the gene regulatory dynamics involved in the transitions between cell states during differentiation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1588624877173-OYI28B1MVH3I2ILJCZB9/Ward_Lab_research2.png Research - 2) Robustness of gene regulatory processes in response to perturbation Rapid changes in gene expression in response to stress can lead to evolutionary adaptation. If these changes occur in a species-specific manner, they could have consequences on inter-species differences in cellular phenotypes. Alternatively, there may be redundancy in gene regulatory networks. This notion has been difficult to investigate between primate species due to practical and ethical challenges. In addition, teasing apart the relative contributions of intrinsic genetic sequence and the environmental context is inherently challenging in identifying the source of any inter-species differences in gene expression. iPSCs, equivalently generated across species, now allow for environmentally controlled studies to determine core inter-species gene regulatory differences across multiple cell types. This research area will lead to insight into the robustness of gene regulatory networks across cell types, and under different environmental conditions and stress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1588624920457-7MGKBYF3ZPV7LYS00OO8/Ward_Lab_research3.png Research - 3) Impact of inter-individual variation on cardiovascular disease-relevant phenotypes Genetic variants have been found to be associated with a variety of phenotypic traits and diseases, including cardiovascular disease. These loci are typically in non-coding regions of the genome. However, many of these variants are also eQTLs, which could implicate particular genes involved in the trait. Understanding the impact of genetic variation in the human population will provide insight into disease susceptibility and response to treatment, central tenets of personalized medicine. Characterizing the influence of genetic variants, in the relevant cell type, in a controlled environmental context will be important in working towards this goal. One particular area of interest focuses on understanding the genetic and mechanistic basis of chemotherapeutic agent-induced cardiotoxicity. This research area will lead to insight into the effects of genetic variation on drug responses and CVD phenotypes, and could help inform appropriate patient treatment. https://www.ward-lab.org/new-page daily 0.75 2022-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1cea7c15-380b-45c1-be6a-6455989bc573/Lab_move_1.png Gallery Leaving our temporary lab space (Dec 2020) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/7f728a61-6f92-448b-bec7-1a68a7e84a41/Lab_move_2.png Gallery Moving into our new lab space (Dec 2020) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/bb88b12b-0aa3-4821-8ec0-31e5858891b6/Lab_lunch_210611.png Gallery Welcome to the lab Renee! (June 2021) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/9604727e-285b-4c45-9b46-7d6aa40f8126/Lab_lunch_July2021.png Gallery Welcome to the lab Omar! (July 2021) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/d7438291-ac53-4ba6-bbe3-c8c466d41dd0/Holiday_party_2021.jpg Gallery Holiday party (Dec 2021) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/8685385b-7985-49ce-a2b0-2915efa99ff3/Emma_join_220311_edit2.jpg Gallery Welcome to the lab Emma! (March 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/da94ab97-cde9-4f9d-881b-e10117da5123/John_Kandace_join.jpg Gallery Welcome John & Kandace! (June 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/fc56a2bc-1c9d-4511-9789-248b9cd560b0/Renee_AHA_5.jpg Gallery Renee at AHA BCVS meeting (July 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/69a28a12-ebfb-44fe-b649-c743b3e58c0b/Kandace_Oktoberfest.jpg Gallery Kandace's poster at Oktoberfest (Oct 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/934d5712-ef27-4860-ad3c-dcf9f9775aac/John_Oktoberfest_2.jpg Gallery John presenting at Oktoberfest (Oct 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/ad71cad0-d8e3-47fc-8577-60ff77670745/Oktoberfest_lab.jpg Gallery Full lab turnout at Oktoberfest (Oct 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/e954fae6-ce86-4805-a545-3fff0394f1f2/Omar_ASHG_edit.jpg Gallery Omar at ASHG meeting (Oct 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/0bf7e949-ae92-4a64-89c1-53061240ef84/Lab_lunch_Oct22_3.jpg Gallery Belated welcome to Sayan & congrats to Omar on admission to candidacy (Oct 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1a9f74fc-c15a-4613-ba22-791897901984/Heart_walk_website.jpg Gallery AHA Heart Walk (Nov 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/dc8ecec3-c055-4069-a3e2-15d28203c843/IMG_5522.jpg Gallery Holiday party (Dec 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/d8cc513b-7e8a-4e25-9596-2c8716db6214/Hol_party_lunch_3.jpg Gallery Holiday party (Dec 2022) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/79e1897d-dd55-4678-869c-7363f799ac77/IMG_6451.jpg Gallery BCM CVRI Symposium (April 2023) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/87c59d8c-b4a7-4803-bb0b-f407269a1d99/IMG_6353.jpg Gallery Sayan presenting at BCM CVRI (April 2023) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/d6ca67d5-b78c-4c26-80fb-aeb082d5d85d/Lunch_Kritikos_230728.jpg Gallery Emma & John admitted to candidacy, Jose winning safety champion award (July 2023) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/9c8caf30-539d-4aae-b2a4-8137396953e1/Retreat_Nir_Ward_2_2023.jpg Gallery Nir-Ward Lab retreat (Sep 2023) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/6ab7a60f-a771-43d4-90bf-4297cdcd548c/Renee_ASHG.jpg Gallery Renee & her Reviewer's Choice Award at ASHG (Nov 2023) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/2059962b-a886-4e63-8e4e-219647f1b93e/GSBS_shoot_4_lab_people_2024.jpg Gallery Regular Thurs in the lab (Jan 2024) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/c47dc798-94be-4533-b5ca-211e246247c4/GSBS_Emma_2024.jpg Gallery Emma 'feeding' iPSCs (Jan 2024) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1707539762486-86IYDUO4GFKYEPKVKVC0/GSBS_Emma_JOhn_2024.jpg Gallery Emma & John cell culturing (Jan 2024) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/7c70e763-a24a-4630-9a7b-20e7668d8419/Lab_Feb24.jpg Gallery Lab (Feb 2024) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1731995955036-EPBPXIQNIFWE6LVUS7VW/IMG_9661.jpg Gallery Lab at Raodah's final PREP cohort presentation (June 2024) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/3906aab5-3c33-496f-8951-7b34fcb98621/img_4385.jpg Gallery Sayan & his Reviewer's Choice Award at ASHG (Nov 2024) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/5c4920ef-fec5-4dea-a083-92c374c120df/IMG_4414.jpg Gallery Ward Lab contingent at ASHG (Nov 2024) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/ef9d1337-ed33-4a09-aa68-c6367cceaad5/Holiday_party_2024.jpg Gallery Holiday party (Dec 2024) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1742405171050-BPHPTDDBUYW95JYN1DF2/Image%2Bfrom%2BiOS%2B%25289%2529.jpg Gallery Omar defends! (Jan 2025) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1752622089000-BDANUJROLQM1SDZT7ZXV/EHS_lab_of_quarter.jpg Gallery Congrats to Jose on earning us EHS Lab of the Quarter! (June 2025) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1752621614105-CJQXU9BPHZMEMBO5BSJR/Eduard0_lunch_June_2025.jpg Gallery Welcome to the lab Eduardo! (June 2025) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/42f0cdf7-0023-4b4b-b942-c937830c2476/Retreat_2025.jpg Gallery Nir-Ward Lab retreat (Aug 2025) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/436a6c25-c98e-40c5-80c9-cba0adcae316/Eduardo_GSBS_2025.jpg Gallery Eduardo at GSBS Research Expo (Oct 2025) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/1f6269c3-2f1d-43b9-a95c-3c765ae7ee61/John_ASHG_2025.jpg Gallery John at ASHG (Oct 2025) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/0425a82c-b7d0-4510-b8d5-cfd7d47f35e5/ASHG_2025_2.jpg Gallery ASHG (Oct 2025) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e9f12d98e336e2b122dd8a5/11feadb9-d6b6-48c1-8bcb-1bcc32419326/Holiday_party_2025_2_edit.jpg Gallery Holiday party (Dec 2025)