Investigating the potential of the adult epicardium as a stem cell niche, the lineage heterogeneity of the he response epicardium-derived progenitors and the response to injury-induced signalling. (360G-Wellcome-089578_Z_09_A)

To characterise the lineage heterogeneity of adult epicardium-derived progenitor cells and to investigate the potential of the epicardium as a stem cell niche; thus identifying the characteristics, that can be altered pharmacologically as a novel approach to regenerative medicine. As well determine whether epicardial activation in response to injury is "organ wide" or localised to the infarct site, to investigate the efficacy of aged epicardium for cardiac repair and to determine injury-induced signals and factors that result in the activation of the epicardium for further mechanistic studies identifying key specific pathways and to design therapeutic agents to activate EPDCs.