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Dr. James Francis Martin is an American physician-scientist recognized for his contributions to fundamental understanding of signaling pathways and genetic determinates of cardiac and organ development, disease, and regenerative biology

Education

Martin pursued his education at Fordham University in Bronx, NY, where he earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1981. Subsequently, he attended the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Texas, for his medical training, graduating with a M.D. degree in 1986. He continued his medical journey by completing residencies and a fellowship in general surgery at the same institution. Dedicated to advancing research, Dr. Martin pursued a Ph.D. in molecular and muscle biology under the mentorship of Eric Olson at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

Career

Following his PhD, Martin was appointed as the faculty at Texas A&M University in 1996 and promoted to full professor in 2006. In 2011, he moved his research laboratory to Baylor College of Medicine, where he became the Vivian Smith professor and the vice chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. He is also the director of the Center for Organ Repair and Renewal at Baylor College of Medicine and the Cardiomyocyte Renewal Lab at the Texas Heart Institute.

Honors and Recognitions


 * 2022 Member, the Association of American Physicians.
 * 2021 Fellow, the National Academy of Inventors.
 * 2016 Michael E. DeBakey, MD Excellence in Research Award.
 * 2015 Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center Distinguished Scientist Award.
 * 2011 Vivian L Smith Chair in Regenerative Medicine.
 * 2010 Margaret M. Alkek Professor of Medical Genetics.
 * 2008 The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas, Protégé.
 * 1998 March of Dimes/Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Research Award.

Research

Martin’s research investigates the genetic regulation of organ development, regeneration and disease, with a primary focus on the heart, and combines genetic as well as acquired mammalian disease models with advanced genomics approaches. His previous work has focused on understanding the functions of BMP signaling, Wnt signaling, and the transcription factor Pitx2 in the regulation of heart, craniofacial, and limb development in mice. An important milestone in his research was the discovery of the critical role of Hippo signaling in controlling heart size during development. Notably, his recent study demonstrated that the inhibiting Hippo signaling can reverse heart failure in adult mouse and pig models via mechanisms that promote heart regeneration. Furthermore, his research discovered a direct interaction between Yap, a downstream effector of Hippo signaling, and the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. His laboratory also studies genetic underpinnings of human congenital heart diseases and contributions of diverse cell types in the heart to disease, regeneration, and repair.

Entrepreneurship

In addition to his academic pursuits, Martin is a co-founder of Yap Therapeutics, a startup with a mission to translate his research findings into therapies that promote regenerative repair in patients with heart failure.