About Us

Todd Herron, PhD (continued)

He obtained a PhD from the University of Missouri-Columbia in the laboratory of Dr. Kerry McDonald. Upon graduation in 2002 Dr. Herron joined Kings College London in the laboratory of Dr. Jon Kentish and completed an MRC sponsored postdoctoral fellowship. In each of these laboratories training focused on molecular regulation of single cardiomyocyte contractile function.

In 2004 Dr. Herron joined the University of Michigan research community as a research fellow on the prestigious Cardiovascular Research Training Grant (T32) and also competed successfully for an individual NIH NRSA Award (F32). This NIH sponsored postdoctoral fellowship period was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Joseph Metzger, a pioneer in the field of gene transfer for molecular cardiology.

In 2007 Dr. Herron had the fortuitous opportunity to join the UM Center for Arrhythmia Research and began a fruitful collaboration with Dr. Jose Jalife. Dr. Herron's extensive molecular cardiology training thus spans the spectrum of cardiac function from excitation (action potential and electrophysiology) to contraction (force development). In 2010 Dr. Herron completed training on Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture Methods at WiCell Research Institute in Madison, WI. Since then his research has focused on using hiPSCs and hESCs to generate patient specific models of inherited heart disease and also to establish hiPSC-CM based cardiotoxicity screening platforms in vitro.

Contact Todd Herron:

• By email: toddherr@umich.edu
• By phone: 734-998-0460

Andre Monteiro da Rocha, PhD, DVM (continued)

His interest in research led him to join the Department of Animal Reproduction of FMVZ-USP as an veterinary student and after graduation (1999) he completed his training at the same department, obtaining a Master's in Animal Reproduction (2001) and a Ph.D. in Animal Reproduction (2005).

He worked as a researcher for the biggest human assisted reproduction clinic in South America for 5 years before joining the University of Michigan as a research fellow at UM MStem Cell Laboratories in 2011. In 2012, Andre was part of a collaboration between MStem Cell Laboratories and the Center for Arrhythmia Research to study the developmental effects of a mutation causal of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and started working closely to Dr. Herron's group. Upon the completion of his post-doctoral training he joined Dr. Herron's team.

Contact Andre Monteiro da Rocha:

• By email: moandre@umich.edu
• By phone: 734-763-7251

Jeff was born and raised in Brooklyn, MI where he graduated from Columbia Central High School. Jeff is a recent (2016) graduate of Spring Arbor Universitywhere he received a BA in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. He has also performed original research on the screening and development of antimicrobial compounds as part of his education. In 2014, he completed a virology internship at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in the lab of Dr. Barry Rockx where he was co-authored on a manuscript analyzing the cross-reactivity of monoclonal antibodies against all known Ebola viruses. Jeff joined the Core laboratory in January 2017 and has received training on human pluripotent stem cell derivation, maintenance, and differentiation to cardiovascular cells.

Contact Jeffery Creech:

• By email: creechj@umich.edu
• By phone: 734-763-9590