Mariela N Gonzalez

My goal is to enhance my technical and theoretical knowledge in cell differentiation in tissue context and tissue response to injury, repair and regeneration processes. I'm very interested in the repair and tissue regeneration in degenerative diseases and trauma, using as cell therapies treatment. During my thesis work I test the exogenous administration of G-CSF as an inductor of the expression of molecules involved in cardiac remodelation in T. cruzi-infected mice, as an attempt to repair the damage caused by the parasite, also I assay its effectiveness as an enhancer of the Benznidazol treatment (anti-tripanocidal drug). I’ve been working to understand the immunological and histological aspects that may be contributing to limit cardiac regeneration during Chagas disease. I’ve learned to employ real time RT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry approaches to examine the expression level and localization of selected genes/proteins considered to be essential for generation and homing of stem cells for cardiac regeneration.Currently, I have a post-doctoral position for two years at the Laboratory on Thymus Research, FIOCRUZ, Brazil. My lab is interested in the molecular mechanisms and cellular compartments that regulate the regenerative capacity of human skeletal muscle in normal and pathological situations.