Page 40 - CBAC Newsletter 2013

Stacey L. Rentschler, M.D., Ph.D.
Education and Training:
1995 B.S. Biochemistry, Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, PA
2002 Ph.D. Biological Sciences,
Mount Sinai, School of
Medicine, NY, NY
2004 M.D. Medicine, Mount
Sinai School of Medicine,
NY, NY
2004-2006 Resident, Internal
Medicine, Hospital of the
University of
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
2006-2011 Fellow, Cardiovas-
cular Disease, Hospital of
the University of
Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA
2011-2012 Instructor, Cardio
vascular Disease, Dept.
of Medicine, Hospital of
the University of
Pennsylania,
Philadelphia, PA
34 | CBAC Center Heartbeat
Assistant Professor of Medicine & Developmental Biology
Cardiovascular Division
Washington University School of Medicine
Research Interests:
Stacey Rentschler’s laboratory is seeking to identify the signaling pathways
that instruct cardiomyocytes to become conduction cells during develop-
ment, which may ultimately provide insight into regenerative approaches to-
wards development of a biologic pacemaker. The Rentschler laboratory uses
genetically modified mouse models to study developmental processes
leading to conduction cell specification and function, especially as it relates
to congenital arrhythmias. Activation of Notch signaling in mice produces
preexcitation resembling WPW syndrome, and current projects seek to
identify developmental processes gone awry in pre-excitation syndromes.
Biography:
Rentschler joined the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, in
September 2012. As a cardiology fellow at the University of Pennsylvania
under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Epstein, she received the prestigious
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists, which is giv-
en to physicians working in basic biomedical or disease-oriented research.
While a cardiology fellow, Dr. Rentschler developed a mouse model for
preexcitation syndromes such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW).
In addition, she developed strategies for reprogramming cardiomyocytes into
conduction system cells.
Rentschler’s doctoral studies were conducted at Mount Sinai School of
Medicine in the laboratory of Dr. Glenn Fishman. While at Mount Sinai, Dr.
Rentschler developed a method to visualize the cardiac conduction system
in mice, including the most distal Purkinje cell network. Using this tool, she
studied the signaling pathways that govern formation and functional matura-
tion of the mammalian cardiac conduction system, and demonstrated that
neuregulin-1 induces Purkinje cell lineage specification.
Selected Publication:
Rentschler S, Harris BS, Kuznekoff L, Jain R, Manderfield L, Lu M, Morley
GE, Patel VV, Epstein JA. Notch Signaling Regulates Murine Atrioventricular
Conduction and Formation of Accessory Pathways. JCI, 2011; 121(2):525-33
PMCID: PMC3026731. Cover story with editorial commentary.