News from the Lab
July 28, 2026
Jay Lam presents a poster on “Molecular Basis for Cardiac Complications in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy” at the 2026 California Institute of Regenerative Medicine Trainee Networking Conference in Sacramento, CA.
July 12, 2026
Asuka Eguchi presents “Considerations for gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy” at the American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences ACS Meeting.
July 2, 2026
The lab publishes “Microdystrophins partially rescue deficits of Duchenne muscular dystrophy iPSC-cardiomyocytes” in Molecular Therapy Advances. This paper is a first-author publication for Abbey Keegan.
July 1, 2026
The lab receives an R03 grant from the NIH to study “Cardiac Complications of Dystrophin Deficiency in Female Carriers.” This project will investigate how cardiac symptoms may arise in mothers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.
June 24, 2026
Elaine Lai passes her Advancement Exam. Pictured below is Elaine and Asuka at the MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference.
June 16, 2026
The lab celebrates Fiona Lau’s graduation and acceptance to the Master of Health Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program at Johns Hopkins.
June 9, 2026
Abbey Keegan passes her Advancement Exam. Pictured below is Abbey presenting at the MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference.
June 2, 2026
The lab celebrates Danni Ortiz’s time in the lab.
May 29, 2026
Danni Ortiz defends his master’s thesis in Biotechnology on “Delivery of Full-Length Dystrophin mRNA for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.”
May 27, 2026
Asuka Eguchi is featured in an American Heart Association video.
May 20, 2026
Michelle Polen passes her Preliminary Exam. Pictured below is Michelle volunteering at MDA Summer Camp.
May 15, 2026
At the School of Medicine Grad Day, Elaine Lai and Michelle Polen win a Zotscar for their Lab ASMR video.
May 15, 2026
Asuka Eguchi receives a Zotty Award for Best Director - Early Career at the School of Medicine Grad Day.
May 15, 2026
Fiona Lau presents at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
April 9, 2026
Amogh Baddam, Fiona Lau, Michelle Polen, Danni Ortiz, and Elaine Lai present posters at the 2nd Annual MAXIMUS T32 Retreat. Abbey Keegan gives a talk for which she receives an Excellent Oral Presentation Award.
March 9, 2026
Elaine Lai and Abbey Keegan present posters at the Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical and Scientific Conference. Abbey is recognized with a Best Poster Award.
February 25, 2026
Elaine Lai and Danni Ortiz present posters at the Stem Cell Research Symposium.
February 4, 2026
Asuka Eguchi speaks at the American Heart Association Stem Goes Red event for Orange County high schoolers.
