Description of Research Expertise

Our laboratory is interested in studying the basic cellular electrophysiologic mechanisms which determine cardiac excitation, conduction and refractoriness with a view to understanding the causes of cardiac arrhythmias and developing modalities to control them. Our experiments utilize in vitro animal models to study the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias. We derive information about the underlying membrane electrophysiologic characteristics which contribute to the abnormal conduction and automaticity at the basis of arrhythmias. Much of our past work has focused on a canine model of "healed" myocardial infarction which has proven to be a useful analog of the human condition. Our current investigations involve studying how antiarrhythmic agents cause arrhythmias (proarrhythmia). In this regard we are focusing on an animal model of drug induced long Q-T syndrome. We are also studying ways of salvaging ischemic myocardium at risk for infarction. Our goal is to generate new information which may be useful in designing new therapeutic modalities.

Key Words:
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Myocardial Ischemia
Myocardial Infarction
Myocardial preconditioning