Cardiac Physiology and Biophysics

Understanding the physiology and mechanics of cardiac function is crucial to improving the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Our research ranges from understanding basic events of cardiac and skeletal muscle function to uncovering the detailed mechanisms of heart remodeling during chronic disease states. Our primary areas of study, in order of priority, are:

• Myofilament regulation during disease
• Defining the mechanisms that control calcium homeostasis and excitation-contraction coupling in the heart.
• The interaction of membrane proteins such as SERCA with their regulatory partners
• The role of the calcineurin-NFATc signaling pathway and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-mediated calcium release in cardiac remodeling during hypertrophy and heart failure
• The protective role of heat shock proteins

Meet the research scientists in this research division here.