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  • Welcome to Jacinto Lab

Welcome to Jacinto Lab

Our group’s main interest is to understand regenerative processes to address health challenges with high impact on quality of life.

We focus on the roles of cellular metabolism and the tissue microenvironment in regeneration and cancer. We apply systems-biology approaches and experimental methods, including advanced genetics, high-resolution microscopy, and multi-omics analytics, to study retina and fin regeneration in zebrafish, and cancer biology using human organoids. We expect that work across animal models and human in vitro systems will deepen understanding of tissue physiology and disease. Ultimately, we aim to enable better diagnostics and novel therapeutic strategies by enhancing human regenerative capacity.

Main Research Interests

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Our lab investigates how cellular metabolism and the tissue microenvironment regulate regeneration and cancer, with a focus on cellular plasticity and its translational potential for diagnostics and therapy. 

Methods

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High-resolution microscopy 
Mass spectrometry-based omics 
Bioinformatics 
Flow cytometry 
Cell culture (yes, we do 2D, 3D co-cultures, and primary cells — we like options!) 
ELISA 
Immunohistochemistry 
In situ hybridization

Models

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Zebrafish 
Human in vitro 3D co-culture systems 
Primary cell cultures 
Clinically annotated patient sample

STRATEGY

The Jacinto Lab addresses questions in regeneration and cancer by combining zebrafish models of retina and fin regeneration with human in vitro systems. This experimental breadth allows us to integrate systems-biology approaches with advanced genetics, high-resolution microscopy, and multi-omics analyses to uncover how cellular metabolism and the tissue microenvironment regulate cellular plasticity across contexts. By bridging animal models and human systems, we aim to identify conserved mechanisms with translational relevance for improved diagnostics and therapy. 

 

PROJECTS

Molecular mechanisms of retina regeneration 

Why can some animals regenerate damaged tissues while humans cannot? Our research aims to understand the biological programs that enable regeneration and explore how these mechanisms could be activated in humans.

We study the retina – the thin layer of nerve tissue at the back of the eye that captures light and allows us to see – which is damaged in common diseases that lead to vision loss. While humans cannot naturally replace lost retinal neurons, zebrafish can fully regenerate their retina after injury. By comparing these responses, we investigate how support cells in the retina, called Müller glia, become activated, how cellular metabolism changes after injury, and how new cells are generated to rebuild tissue.

Using genetics, microscopy, and systems-biology approaches, we seek to identify the key signals that control regeneration and support the development of new therapies to restore vision.

 

 

MERIT-H: Deciphering and Targeting Metabolic–Epigenetic Reprogramming of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts to Improve Therapy Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma 

How do liver tumors reprogram nearby support cells, and can this process be blocked to improve treatment response?MERIT-H focuses on hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer, and on cancer-associated fibroblasts, cells in the tumor microenvironment that can promote tumor growth, suppress immune responses, and reduce the effectiveness of therapy. We aim to understand how lactate, a molecule produced in large amounts by tumor cells, reshapes these fibroblasts by altering the way their genes are regulated. By revealing this hidden communication between tumor cells and their surroundings, the project may uncover new strategies to disrupt the tumor’s support system and improve the effectiveness of existing treatments.