Fernanda Cristina Paccola Mesquita, Ph.D.
Instructor in Surgery
Positions
- Instructor in Surgery
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Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
Addresses
- Regenerative Medicine Research Lab (Lab)
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6770 Bertner Avenue
Houston, TX, 77030
United States
Education
- PhD from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
- Rio de Janeiro
- MSc from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
- Rio de Janeiro
- BSc from State University of Maringá
- ±Ê²¹°ù²¹²Ôá
Professional Interests
- Disease modeling
- Cardiovascular Stem Cell Biology
- Tissue engineering
Professional Statement
Dr. Fernanda Cristina Paccola Mesquita’s scientific journey has been driven by a profound curiosity about how the human heart develops, repairs itself, and ultimately fails in disease. Early in her training, she became captivated by the potential of stem cells to uncover mechanisms that are otherwise impossible to study in patients. This passion led her to pursue doctoral research focused on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of inherited cardiac disorders.
During her Ph.D. at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dr. Mesquita generated iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from patients with type 2 long QT syndrome and employed CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to isolate the effects of the R534C KCNH2 mutation within an identical genetic background. This work strengthened her foundation in genomics, stem cell biology, and molecular engineering, while reinforcing her commitment to studying human cardiac physiology through innovative cell-based platforms.
Following her Ph.D., Dr. Mesquita joined The Texas Heart Institute at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine, where her research expanded into tissue engineering. She developed a strong interest in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its influence on cell fate, gaining specialized expertise in ECM-based strategies to enhance iPSC expansion and guide cardiac differentiation and maturation. Her first-authored studies demonstrated that decellularized ECM (dECM) from distinct heart regions can direct lineage outcomes in a region-specific manner, and that dECM powder alone can improve the metabolic maturation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes early in differentiation.
Currently, Dr. Mesquita is pursuing a multifaceted approach to mature human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes by integrating ECM, metabolic, electrical, and mechanical cues. In addition, she investigates vascular endothelial dysfunction using patient-specific in vitro models and engineers mesenchymal stem cell–derived exosomes to treat cardiovascular disease and primary graft dysfunction following lung transplantation. Throughout her career, her overarching goal has remained consistent: to develop meaningful, human-relevant tools that bring regenerative therapies for the heart closer to reality.
During her Ph.D. at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dr. Mesquita generated iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from patients with type 2 long QT syndrome and employed CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to isolate the effects of the R534C KCNH2 mutation within an identical genetic background. This work strengthened her foundation in genomics, stem cell biology, and molecular engineering, while reinforcing her commitment to studying human cardiac physiology through innovative cell-based platforms.
Following her Ph.D., Dr. Mesquita joined The Texas Heart Institute at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine, where her research expanded into tissue engineering. She developed a strong interest in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its influence on cell fate, gaining specialized expertise in ECM-based strategies to enhance iPSC expansion and guide cardiac differentiation and maturation. Her first-authored studies demonstrated that decellularized ECM (dECM) from distinct heart regions can direct lineage outcomes in a region-specific manner, and that dECM powder alone can improve the metabolic maturation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes early in differentiation.
Currently, Dr. Mesquita is pursuing a multifaceted approach to mature human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes by integrating ECM, metabolic, electrical, and mechanical cues. In addition, she investigates vascular endothelial dysfunction using patient-specific in vitro models and engineers mesenchymal stem cell–derived exosomes to treat cardiovascular disease and primary graft dysfunction following lung transplantation. Throughout her career, her overarching goal has remained consistent: to develop meaningful, human-relevant tools that bring regenerative therapies for the heart closer to reality.
Selected Publications
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Ershad F, Rao Z, Maharajan S, Mesquita FCP, Ha J, Gonzalez L, Haideri T, Curty da Costa E, Moctezuma-Ramirez A, Wang Y, Jang S, Lu Y, Patel S, ..., Hochman-Mendez C, et al. " " Sci Adv. ;
Pubmed PMID: . -
Mesquita FCP, King M, da Costa Lopez PL, Thevasagayampillai S, Gunaratne PH, Hochman-Mendez C. " " Int J Mol Sci. ;
Pubmed PMID: . -
Mesquita FCP, Morrissey J, Monnerat G, Domont GB, Nogueira FCS, Hochman-Mendez C. " " Cells Tissues Organs. ;
Pubmed PMID: . -
Mesquita FCP, Leite ES, Morrissey J, Freitas C, Coelho-Sampaio T, Hochman-Mendez C. " " Cells. ;
Pubmed PMID: .
Memberships
- American Heart Association
- International Society of Stem Cell Research
- International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation
- Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society
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