Translational Research on Heart Failure and Arrhythmias

Research overview

Heart failure, sudden death, and atrial fibrillation are often manifestations of cardiomyopathies and chronic cardiac damage. We study the effects of genetic factors for the development of heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and sudden death. We use molecular biology, imaging, and physiological techniques to identify mechanisms leading to these diseases, work on novel ways to develop and validate personalized approaches to diagnose and treat patients with these conditions, and test interventions in experimental models and in clinical trials.

Our research group

We use cellular and integrated physiological measurements, molecular biology, and imaging techniques to characterise heart function in transgenic models. These allow us to identify molecular mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction (e.g. in inherited cardiomyopathies) and help to delineate new therapeutic targets for personalized treatment of heart failure and arrhythmias.

Our group works closely with other research groups on campus and in the two major NHS trusts (UHB and SWBH) in Birmingham. We maintain research contacts with the German Atrial Fibrillation NETwork and with the Medical Faculty at the University of Münster, and collaborate with professional organisations and research networks in Britain and Europe. Together with these partners, we explore possibilities to translate new insights into hypotheses that can be tested in clinical trials and/or in biobanks, with the final goal to improve treatment of patients suffering from heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and/or to prevent sudden death using personalized approaches to diagnosis and therapy.