Joaquim Nunes Vieira studied Biochemistry as an undergraduate at the University of Lisbon, Portugal, and researched developmental angiogenesis for his PhD in Professor Christiana Ruhrberg's laboratory at University College London (UCL). After successful postdoctoral studies at UCL and University of Oxford with Professor Paul Riley investigating the epigenetic regulation of the epicardium and role of cardiac lymphatics during heart development and disease, Joaquim Nunes Vieira was awarded a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowship to start his research group in Oxford. On the 1st of January, Joaquim Nunes Vieira joined King’s College London - School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences (Denmark Hill Campus) taking up a Lecturer position in Cardiovascular Medicine and moving his research focus to King’s. The Vieira Group studies the molecular underpinnings of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the developing and diseased heart. In addition, the group retains an interest in understanding cell-cell interactions in the developing heart supporting coronary and lymphatic vasculature expansion, as well as patterning of the cardiac autonomic system. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms supporting organ development is poised to identify molecular targets to effect (adult) heart repair.