Multi-Scale Modeling of the Failing Heart: From Mouse to Human

Title: Multi-Scale Modeling of the Failing Heart: From Mouse to Human

Short description: Heart failure is a complex syndrome that involves cellular defects in excitation-contraction coupling and contractile mechanisms, neurohormonal and dysregulation and metabolic changes, ventricular structural remodeling, and circulatory alterations. We use multi-scale computational modeling, magnetic resonance imaging and biophysical studies in genetically engineered mice to investigate how cellular and molecular defects can give rise to heart failure at the organ and system scales. Here I will show recent studies on the mechanisms by which gene defects in the contractile regulatory protein myosin regulatory light chain and the cytoskeletal protein vinculin can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Recent progress in using patient-specific models of dyssynchronous heart failure to understand clinical responses to cardiac resynchronization therapy will also be presented.

Presenter: Professor Andrew McCulloch, University of California, San Diego