Vidu Garg, MD Principal Investigator CV and Publications Vidu Garg is is Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Research and the Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Molecular Genetics at The Ohio State University. He also serves as Director of Translational Research and is a board-certified practicing pediatric cardiologist in the Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Dr. Garg completed his pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 1997 after which he spent five years at University of Texas Southwestern completing his pediatric cardiology training and a post-doctoral research fellowship in cardiac development and cardiovascular genetics. Subsequently, he joined the faculty at University of Texas Southwestern before returning to Nationwide Children’s. Dr. Garg’s research laboratory focuses on deciphering the genetic architecture of congenital heart disease and understanding how these disease genes influence clinical outcomes of patients affected by this disease, the most common type of birth defect.

Jun Yasuhara Post-doctoral Scientist Jun received his MD from Keio University School of Medicine, Japan in 2007. He completed his pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at Keio University Hospital, Japan in 2017. He is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist. He underwent a basic research training on cardiovascular development and genetics of congenital heart disease under the mentorship of Dr. Hiroyuki Yamagishi. He joined the Garg lab in 2018 and is currently involved in projects of human genetics aimed at identifying novel genes and molecular mechanisms that contribute to congenital heart disease.

Ruth Ackah, MD Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Dr. Ackah received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, in 2018. She is currently an active general surgery resident in The Ohio State University General Surgery Program. Dr. Ackah joined the Garg Lab in 2020. Her current work focuses on the evaluation of biomechanics and embryologic origins of congenital heart associated aneurysmal disease.

Emily Morris Cameron Senior Research Associate Emily received her MS degree in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology from The Ohio State University in 2016. She began working at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2011 and transferred into the Garg Lab in July of 2017.

Sara Adamczak Research Assistant Sara received her MS degree in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University in 2019. She began working at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in October 2019.

Talita Choudhury Graduate Student Talita received her MS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh in 2017. She is a graduate student in the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Ph.D. program at The Ohio State University. She joined the Garg lab in 2016 and is currently involved in projects that aim to understand the epigenetic mechanisms underlying maternal diabetes associated congenital heart defects.

Lab Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellows

Asha Acharya, PhD: Instructor, UT Southwestern Department of Molecular Biology Elizabeth Bonachea, PhD: Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology), The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children’s Hospital Kevin Bosse, PhD: Director of Research Regulatory Affairs, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Chetan Hans, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Missouri Chaitali Misra, PhD: RNA Biochemistry Scientist, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Ashleigh Richards Payne, MD: Pediatric Cardiologist, Texas Caryn Rothrock McNally, PhD: Global Strategic Account Manager, Pall Corporation Nita Sachan, PhD: Vice-President, Endiya Partners Meenakshi Maitra, PhD: Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Texas at Dallas Sathiya Manivannan, PhD: Senior Scientific Consultant, Qiagen Madhumita Basu, PhD: Senior Research Scientist, MelliCell Uddalak Majumdar PhD: Research Scientist, Eurofins

Graduate Students

Sheng-Wei Chang, PhD: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Bionano Genomics Sara Koenig, PhD: Assistant Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Stephanie LaHaye, PhD: Senior Translational Scientist, Tempus Labs Cody Magnuson, MS: Medical Student, The Ohio State University Adrianna Matos-Nieves, PhD: Senior Program Coordinator (K-12 Education), Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard

Research Staff

Marie Schluterman Burdine, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Amanda Krysiak, DDS: Dentist, Texas Haley Nichols Yott, PA: Physician Assistant, Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Texas Hubert Pan, MD: Radiation Oncologist, Sutter Health, California Sara Fitzgerald-Butt, MS, LCGC: Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine  Kate Myers, MS, LCGC: Genetics Counselor, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Darian Bauer: Clinical Research Coordinator, The Ohio State University Amelia Cephas: Graduate Student, Vanderbilt University Hannah Huang: Senior Research Associate, Nationwide Children’s Hospital James Feller, PhD: Biological Scientist, PIBO Monitoring Program, U.S. Forest Service Paige Sanchez: Business Analyst, Huntington Bank Sara Adamczak: Study Coordinator, Amplifybio

Vidu Garg, MD Principal Investigator CV and Publications Vidu Garg is is Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Research and the Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Molecular Genetics at The Ohio State University. He also serves as Director of Translational Research and is a board-certified practicing pediatric cardiologist in the Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Dr. Garg completed his pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 1997 after which he spent five years at University of Texas Southwestern completing his pediatric cardiology training and a post-doctoral research fellowship in cardiac development and cardiovascular genetics. Subsequently, he joined the faculty at University of Texas Southwestern before returning to Nationwide Children’s. Dr. Garg’s research laboratory focuses on deciphering the genetic architecture of congenital heart disease and understanding how these disease genes influence clinical outcomes of patients affected by this disease, the most common type of birth defect.

Vidu Garg, MD Principal Investigator CV and Publications

Vidu Garg is is Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Research and the Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Molecular Genetics at The Ohio State University. He also serves as Director of Translational Research and is a board-certified practicing pediatric cardiologist in the Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Dr. Garg completed his pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 1997 after which he spent five years at University of Texas Southwestern completing his pediatric cardiology training and a post-doctoral research fellowship in cardiac development and cardiovascular genetics. Subsequently, he joined the faculty at University of Texas Southwestern before returning to Nationwide Children’s. Dr. Garg’s research laboratory focuses on deciphering the genetic architecture of congenital heart disease and understanding how these disease genes influence clinical outcomes of patients affected by this disease, the most common type of birth defect.

Jun Yasuhara Post-doctoral Scientist Jun received his MD from Keio University School of Medicine, Japan in 2007. He completed his pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at Keio University Hospital, Japan in 2017. He is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist. He underwent a basic research training on cardiovascular development and genetics of congenital heart disease under the mentorship of Dr. Hiroyuki Yamagishi. He joined the Garg lab in 2018 and is currently involved in projects of human genetics aimed at identifying novel genes and molecular mechanisms that contribute to congenital heart disease.

Ruth Ackah, MD Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Dr. Ackah received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, in 2018. She is currently an active general surgery resident in The Ohio State University General Surgery Program. Dr. Ackah joined the Garg Lab in 2020. Her current work focuses on the evaluation of biomechanics and embryologic origins of congenital heart associated aneurysmal disease.

Emily Morris Cameron Senior Research Associate Emily received her MS degree in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology from The Ohio State University in 2016. She began working at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2011 and transferred into the Garg Lab in July of 2017.

Sara Adamczak Research Assistant Sara received her MS degree in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University in 2019. She began working at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in October 2019.

Talita Choudhury Graduate Student Talita received her MS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh in 2017. She is a graduate student in the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Ph.D. program at The Ohio State University. She joined the Garg lab in 2016 and is currently involved in projects that aim to understand the epigenetic mechanisms underlying maternal diabetes associated congenital heart defects.

Lab Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellows

Asha Acharya, PhD: Instructor, UT Southwestern Department of Molecular Biology Elizabeth Bonachea, PhD: Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology), The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children’s Hospital Kevin Bosse, PhD: Director of Research Regulatory Affairs, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Chetan Hans, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Missouri Chaitali Misra, PhD: RNA Biochemistry Scientist, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Ashleigh Richards Payne, MD: Pediatric Cardiologist, Texas Caryn Rothrock McNally, PhD: Global Strategic Account Manager, Pall Corporation Nita Sachan, PhD: Vice-President, Endiya Partners Meenakshi Maitra, PhD: Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Texas at Dallas Sathiya Manivannan, PhD: Senior Scientific Consultant, Qiagen Madhumita Basu, PhD: Senior Research Scientist, MelliCell Uddalak Majumdar PhD: Research Scientist, Eurofins

Graduate Students

Sheng-Wei Chang, PhD: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Bionano Genomics Sara Koenig, PhD: Assistant Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Stephanie LaHaye, PhD: Senior Translational Scientist, Tempus Labs Cody Magnuson, MS: Medical Student, The Ohio State University Adrianna Matos-Nieves, PhD: Senior Program Coordinator (K-12 Education), Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard

Research Staff

Marie Schluterman Burdine, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Amanda Krysiak, DDS: Dentist, Texas Haley Nichols Yott, PA: Physician Assistant, Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Texas Hubert Pan, MD: Radiation Oncologist, Sutter Health, California Sara Fitzgerald-Butt, MS, LCGC: Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine  Kate Myers, MS, LCGC: Genetics Counselor, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Darian Bauer: Clinical Research Coordinator, The Ohio State University Amelia Cephas: Graduate Student, Vanderbilt University Hannah Huang: Senior Research Associate, Nationwide Children’s Hospital James Feller, PhD: Biological Scientist, PIBO Monitoring Program, U.S. Forest Service Paige Sanchez: Business Analyst, Huntington Bank Sara Adamczak: Study Coordinator, Amplifybio

Jun Yasuhara Post-doctoral Scientist Jun received his MD from Keio University School of Medicine, Japan in 2007. He completed his pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at Keio University Hospital, Japan in 2017. He is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist. He underwent a basic research training on cardiovascular development and genetics of congenital heart disease under the mentorship of Dr. Hiroyuki Yamagishi. He joined the Garg lab in 2018 and is currently involved in projects of human genetics aimed at identifying novel genes and molecular mechanisms that contribute to congenital heart disease.

Jun Yasuhara Post-doctoral Scientist

Jun received his MD from Keio University School of Medicine, Japan in 2007. He completed his pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at Keio University Hospital, Japan in 2017. He is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist. He underwent a basic research training on cardiovascular development and genetics of congenital heart disease under the mentorship of Dr. Hiroyuki Yamagishi.

He joined the Garg lab in 2018 and is currently involved in projects of human genetics aimed at identifying novel genes and molecular mechanisms that contribute to congenital heart disease.

Ruth Ackah, MD Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Dr. Ackah received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, in 2018. She is currently an active general surgery resident in The Ohio State University General Surgery Program. Dr. Ackah joined the Garg Lab in 2020. Her current work focuses on the evaluation of biomechanics and embryologic origins of congenital heart associated aneurysmal disease.

Ruth Ackah, MD Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Dr. Ackah received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, in 2018. She is currently an active general surgery resident in The Ohio State University General Surgery Program. Dr. Ackah joined the Garg Lab in 2020. Her current work focuses on the evaluation of biomechanics and embryologic origins of congenital heart associated aneurysmal disease.

Emily Morris Cameron Senior Research Associate Emily received her MS degree in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology from The Ohio State University in 2016. She began working at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2011 and transferred into the Garg Lab in July of 2017.

Emily Morris Cameron Senior Research Associate

Emily received her MS degree in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology from The Ohio State University in 2016. She began working at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2011 and transferred into the Garg Lab in July of 2017.

Sara Adamczak Research Assistant Sara received her MS degree in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University in 2019. She began working at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in October 2019.

Sara Adamczak Research Assistant

Sara received her MS degree in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University in 2019. She began working at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in October 2019.

Talita Choudhury Graduate Student Talita received her MS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh in 2017. She is a graduate student in the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Ph.D. program at The Ohio State University. She joined the Garg lab in 2016 and is currently involved in projects that aim to understand the epigenetic mechanisms underlying maternal diabetes associated congenital heart defects.

Talita Choudhury Graduate Student

Talita received her MS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh in 2017. She is a graduate student in the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Ph.D. program at The Ohio State University. She joined the Garg lab in 2016 and is currently involved in projects that aim to understand the epigenetic mechanisms underlying maternal diabetes associated congenital heart defects.

Lab Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellows

Asha Acharya, PhD: Instructor, UT Southwestern Department of Molecular Biology Elizabeth Bonachea, PhD: Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology), The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children’s Hospital Kevin Bosse, PhD: Director of Research Regulatory Affairs, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Chetan Hans, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Missouri Chaitali Misra, PhD: RNA Biochemistry Scientist, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Ashleigh Richards Payne, MD: Pediatric Cardiologist, Texas Caryn Rothrock McNally, PhD: Global Strategic Account Manager, Pall Corporation Nita Sachan, PhD: Vice-President, Endiya Partners Meenakshi Maitra, PhD: Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Texas at Dallas Sathiya Manivannan, PhD: Senior Scientific Consultant, Qiagen Madhumita Basu, PhD: Senior Research Scientist, MelliCell Uddalak Majumdar PhD: Research Scientist, Eurofins

Graduate Students

Sheng-Wei Chang, PhD: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Bionano Genomics Sara Koenig, PhD: Assistant Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Stephanie LaHaye, PhD: Senior Translational Scientist, Tempus Labs Cody Magnuson, MS: Medical Student, The Ohio State University Adrianna Matos-Nieves, PhD: Senior Program Coordinator (K-12 Education), Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard

Research Staff

Marie Schluterman Burdine, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Amanda Krysiak, DDS: Dentist, Texas Haley Nichols Yott, PA: Physician Assistant, Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Texas Hubert Pan, MD: Radiation Oncologist, Sutter Health, California Sara Fitzgerald-Butt, MS, LCGC: Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine  Kate Myers, MS, LCGC: Genetics Counselor, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Darian Bauer: Clinical Research Coordinator, The Ohio State University Amelia Cephas: Graduate Student, Vanderbilt University Hannah Huang: Senior Research Associate, Nationwide Children’s Hospital James Feller, PhD: Biological Scientist, PIBO Monitoring Program, U.S. Forest Service Paige Sanchez: Business Analyst, Huntington Bank Sara Adamczak: Study Coordinator, Amplifybio

Postdoctoral Fellows

Asha Acharya, PhD: Instructor, UT Southwestern Department of Molecular Biology Elizabeth Bonachea, PhD: Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology), The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children’s Hospital Kevin Bosse, PhD: Director of Research Regulatory Affairs, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Chetan Hans, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Missouri Chaitali Misra, PhD: RNA Biochemistry Scientist, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Ashleigh Richards Payne, MD: Pediatric Cardiologist, Texas Caryn Rothrock McNally, PhD: Global Strategic Account Manager, Pall Corporation Nita Sachan, PhD: Vice-President, Endiya Partners Meenakshi Maitra, PhD: Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Texas at Dallas Sathiya Manivannan, PhD: Senior Scientific Consultant, Qiagen Madhumita Basu, PhD: Senior Research Scientist, MelliCell Uddalak Majumdar PhD: Research Scientist, Eurofins

Graduate Students

Sheng-Wei Chang, PhD: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Bionano Genomics Sara Koenig, PhD: Assistant Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Stephanie LaHaye, PhD: Senior Translational Scientist, Tempus Labs Cody Magnuson, MS: Medical Student, The Ohio State University Adrianna Matos-Nieves, PhD: Senior Program Coordinator (K-12 Education), Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard

Research Staff

Marie Schluterman Burdine, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Amanda Krysiak, DDS: Dentist, Texas Haley Nichols Yott, PA: Physician Assistant, Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Texas Hubert Pan, MD: Radiation Oncologist, Sutter Health, California Sara Fitzgerald-Butt, MS, LCGC: Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine  Kate Myers, MS, LCGC: Genetics Counselor, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Darian Bauer: Clinical Research Coordinator, The Ohio State University Amelia Cephas: Graduate Student, Vanderbilt University Hannah Huang: Senior Research Associate, Nationwide Children’s Hospital James Feller, PhD: Biological Scientist, PIBO Monitoring Program, U.S. Forest Service Paige Sanchez: Business Analyst, Huntington Bank Sara Adamczak: Study Coordinator, Amplifybio

Postdoctoral Fellows

  • Asha Acharya, PhD: Instructor, UT Southwestern Department of Molecular Biology
  • Elizabeth Bonachea, PhD: Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology), The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Kevin Bosse, PhD: Director of Research Regulatory Affairs, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Chetan Hans, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Missouri
  • Chaitali Misra, PhD: RNA Biochemistry Scientist, Takeda Pharmaceuticals
  • Ashleigh Richards Payne, MD: Pediatric Cardiologist, Texas
  • Caryn Rothrock McNally, PhD: Global Strategic Account Manager, Pall Corporation
  • Nita Sachan, PhD: Vice-President, Endiya Partners
  • Meenakshi Maitra, PhD: Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Texas at Dallas
  • Sathiya Manivannan, PhD: Senior Scientific Consultant, Qiagen
  • Madhumita Basu, PhD: Senior Research Scientist, MelliCell
  • Uddalak Majumdar PhD: Research Scientist, Eurofins

Graduate Students

  • Sheng-Wei Chang, PhD: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Bionano Genomics
  • Sara Koenig, PhD: Assistant Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University
  • Stephanie LaHaye, PhD: Senior Translational Scientist, Tempus Labs
  • Cody Magnuson, MS: Medical Student, The Ohio State University
  • Adrianna Matos-Nieves, PhD: Senior Program Coordinator (K-12 Education), Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard

Research Staff

  • Marie Schluterman Burdine, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  • Amanda Krysiak, DDS: Dentist, Texas
  • Haley Nichols Yott, PA: Physician Assistant, Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Texas
  • Hubert Pan, MD: Radiation Oncologist, Sutter Health, California
  • Sara Fitzgerald-Butt, MS, LCGC: Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Kate Myers, MS, LCGC: Genetics Counselor, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Darian Bauer: Clinical Research Coordinator, The Ohio State University
  • Amelia Cephas: Graduate Student, Vanderbilt University
  • Hannah Huang: Senior Research Associate, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • James Feller, PhD: Biological Scientist, PIBO Monitoring Program, U.S. Forest Service
  • Paige Sanchez: Business Analyst, Huntington Bank
  • Sara Adamczak: Study Coordinator, Amplifybio