Talk Title: Innovations in Stem Cell Research: Unveiling New Therapies for Diabetic (Cardio)vascular Complications

Professor Andriana Margariti is a recognised expert in Vascular and Regenerative Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast, where she leads pioneering research in cardiovascular biology and stem cell science. She earned her PhD in Cardiovascular Medicine from King’s College London in 2008 and completed postdoctoral research at King’s College London, Harvard University, and the University of California, San Francisco. She joined Queen’s University Belfast in 2013, became a Senior Lecturer in 2017, and a professor in 2020. Her research focuses on stem cell biology, particularly cell reprogramming and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies, to create patient-specific models of disease. Her team was the first to identify the RNA-binding gene QKI-7 as a causal factor in cardiovascular disease in diabetes, providing new insights into preventing vascular complications. At the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, she leads iPSC facilities that generate various cell types—including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and organoids—for disease modelling, drug discovery, and personalized regenerative therapies.

Her work with diabetic patient-derived iPSCs is advancing precision cardiovascular medicine. In recognition of her impact, she was honoured as the first living ‘Innovator in Focus’ at the Museum of Innovation in Northern Ireland, highlighting her influence on science and STEM leadership.