BLS Seminar Series- Andriana Margariti, Professor at Queen's University Belfast

Seminar Abstract: Diabetes is a major global health challenge, with cardiovascular complications representing the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among affected individuals. Despite advances in treatment, the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving diabetic vascular dysfunction remain incompletely understood, limiting the development of effective targeted therapies. This talk will highlight pioneering advances in stem cell biology and cellular reprogramming that are transforming our understanding of diabetic cardiovascular disease. By harnessing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, we have established patient-specific human vascular models from small blood samples, enabling the investigation of disease mechanisms in a genetically relevant and physiologically meaningful context. Our research has identified novel molecular regulators of diabetic vascular dysfunction, including the RNA-binding protein QKI-7, and demonstrated the potential of targeting these pathways to restore endothelial function.

Building on these discoveries, we have developed next-generation, patient-derived three-dimensional blood vessel and vascularised cardiac organoids that recapitulate key features of diabetic cardiovascular complications. These innovative human models provide unprecedented opportunities to investigate endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, mitochondrial abnormalities and interactions between vascular and cardiac cells, while supporting therapeutic discovery and personalised drug screening.

By integrating stem cell technologies, advanced human organoid systems and molecular approaches, our research aims to bridge the gap between fundamental discoveries and clinical translation. Ultimately, these advances offer a transformative framework for developing precision therapies for diabetic cardiovascular complications, while reducing reliance on animal models and accelerating the transition towards more predictive, human-relevant biomedical research.

Biosketch: Professor Andriana Margariti is Professor of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast, where she leads research into endothelial dysfunction, vascular disease and regenerative medicine. Her work focuses on iPSC technologies, vascular organoids and RNA-binding proteins, particularly in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Her scientific contributions have been recognised through several prestigious awards, including the BBSRC New Investigator Award (2014), the Papanikolaou Prize from the Hellenic Medical Society and the King’s College London Scientific Research Award. In 2022, she became the first living scientist recognised as an Innovator in Focus at the Ulster Transport Museum.