Rate My Professor Sahar Tavakoli

Dr. Tavakoli's research interests encompass stem cell and regenerative biology, zebrafish models for human diseases, cell and gene therapy, muscle stem cell engraftment, and intestinal stem cells in zebrafish. She discovered two compounds, LPA and NFA, that promote muscle progenitor cells engraftment in vivo. Her influential publications include "Zebrafish biomolecular screen uncovers inducers of skeletal muscle engraftment across species" (Cell Reports, 2023), "Cell clusters containing intestinal stem cells line the zebrafish intestine intervillus pocket" (iScience, 2022), "Directed evolution of a family of AAV capsid variants enabling potent muscle-directed gene delivery across species" (Cell, 2021), "Strain maps characterize the symmetry of convergence and extension patterns during zebrafish gastrulation" (Scientific Reports, 2021), and "Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder predisposes to metabolic abnormalities in adulthood" (Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2020). Additionally, she co-authored the book chapter "Zebrafish as a Model for Human Diseases" (eLS, 2017) and holds a patent titled "Small molecules that enhance the muscle stem cell engraftment" (U.S. Serial No.: 62/618,055). Awards include the full Singapore International Graduate Award scholarship (2009-2013) and travel awards such as GEM4 2012. At Northeastern, she developed and teaches courses such as Cell and Gene Therapy and Regulatory Landscape of Cell and Gene Therapy. Previously, she taught General Biology, Developmental Biology, and Biochemistry at NUS.