Dr Gonzalo del Monte Nieto

Dr Gonzalo del Monte Nieto, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University. 

Awarded a 2018 Future Leader Fellowship. 

Years funded: 2019-2022

RESEARCH PROJECT: New Integrated Models in the Study of Cardiac Development and Disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect in Australia. Although paediatric surgeries have improved the outcome for CHD patients, there is uncertainty regarding the long-term problems that these patients may suffer. More research is needed to help us better understand the causes of CHD so that we can improve genetic screening for CHD and develop better ways to treat it. Dr Gonzalo’s research is focussed on the study of the molecular mechanisms and developmental processes controlling heart development. He has developed a revolutionary model for cardiac chamber formation focusing on trabeculae - a sponge-like specialised cardiac muscle critical for normal cardiac function. This model plays a central role in this research which aims to better understand how the heart muscle develops, how cardiac valves and coronary vessels form, and the causes of CHD. This important knowledge will enable the development of more effective treatments for CHD patients and better ways to generate tissues for transplantation.