Cary Ward, M.D.
Cardiology Fellow
Scholar, Sarnoff Endowment

As a relatively new member of the Kirby lab,
I have set out to define molecular signals involved
in the induction of the secondary heart field.
First, I will delineate the time course of induction
by following the expression of NKX2.5 in a series
of chick embryos from stages 10-22. I will then
go on to investigate the role of cytokines such
as FGF and BMP, which are known to be important for
the induction of the primary heart fields, in the
induction of secondary heart field using secondary
heart field cultures. Finally, I will determine the
effects of the inhibition of these cytokines on the
in vivo induction of the secondary heart field.