The Ruohola-Baker laboratory studies the molecules and cellular properties that are required for stem cell states and their differentiation capacity, both in normal and pathological situations. During the recent years the laboratory has shown that metabolites, microRNAs and HIF pathways play key roles in regulating adult and embryonic stem cell self-renewal in model organisms as well as in hESC and iPSC. The laboratory presently works on three questions: 1) what are the metabolic determinants of stem cells, 2) what are the key microRNAs that induce cardiomyocyte maturation and 3) what is the molecular mechanism of stem cell protection against apoptosis.