Dr. Robert Schwartz is a pioneer in defining the regulatory paradigm in which non-muscle contractile proteins are switched off during muscle differentiation and replaced by muscle specific contractile protein isoforms. Several years ago, Schwartz then identified SRF as the only transcription factor required for sarcomere formation. Recently, Schwartz turned his attention to directed trans-differentiation of somatic cells to cells of other lineages, offering a new avenue for stem cell replacement therapy.

Schwartz’ research team explored the role of mammalian ETS1/2 and Mesp homologues of cardiogenic transcription factors of Ciona intestinalis, to convert primary human dermal fibroblasts into cardiac progenitors. Co-expression of both Ets2 and Mesp1, successfully reprogrammed human skin fibroblasts into cardiac progenitors, as shown by the de novo appearance of core cardiac transcription factors, gap junction proteins, sarcomeric proteins, electrical activity, and contractility. ETS2 and Mesp1 sit at the pinnacle of the cardiopoiesis regulatory hierarchy. Generating cardiac progenitors from fibroblasts is one of the most important milestones in contemporary biology. These efforts will help to identify other optimal cell types such as human adipogenic stem cells for such therapy and are designed to overcome technical and ethical issues involved in using embryonic stem cells. Ultimately, to reconstitute a human heart, the vision is to grow these engineered cells on artificial biomatrices and to treat diseased human hearts.

Schwartz has received 17 U.S. patents and co-founded three companies. He earned his B.S. from Brooklyn College and his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.