OUR INTERESTS

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of suffering and death in Canada. The molecular basis of most cardiovascular diseases are complex and poorly understood. A major interest of our lab is to investigate the cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of calcium cycling at the level of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and its role in cardiac disease. Specifically, we focus on the role of the Serca2a and phospholamban, as well as general cytoskeletal responses in cardiac disease. We are also very interested in the cellular signaling pathways of heart failure in the cardiac myocyte.

For these experiments, we apply conventional biochemical and molecular biology assays together with digital confocal imaging. We are also applying advanced proteomic and phosphoproteomic detection methods to decipher critical events and functions in cardiac and skeletal muscle. In our lab we use all of this information to identify novel cellular targets for the development of therapeutic interventions.

Our work is undertaken using mammalian cell lines, primary cardiac muscle-derived cell cultures, human and mouse embryonic stem cells, and patient-derived material. These techniques serve as valuable experimental tools to investigate cell biology and cellular pathways, and to understand cardiac function and disease.

Considerable effort has gone into developing new approaches in studying cardiac health and function. Specifically we have been very interested in identifying new proteins and pathways in cardiac myocytes. The ultimate aim of our research is to provide clinically relevant therapeutic methods that can be applied to the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure in human patients.