Research

Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and worldwide. Nearly all cardiovascular diseases are associated with cardiac autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which can initiate and cause further exacerbation of heart disease. Many successful therapies for arrhythmias and heart failure have, in fact, targeted the cardiac autonomic nervous system. Our laboratory’s mission is to understand the autonomic nervous system control of the heart in health and disease and determine its role in contributing to arrhythmias and heart failure. Our prior studies have evaluated the role of sympathoexcitation and parasympathetic dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases. We have ongoing studies on several aspects of the autonomic neuraxis from the heart and its receptors to the thoracic and extra-thoracic neuraxis.

We have use advanced techniques such as viral tracing and optogenetics in mice to better understand cardiac innervation. Our laboratory has several ongoing studies on identifying the molecular markers of different subpopulations of cardiac neurons and support cells, and examining how changes these cells can contribute to arrhythmogenesis. By using optogenetics to activate specific neuronal pathways, we gain insight into the functional role of specific neuronal subpopulations in health and disease. 

Leveraging these mechanistic insights, we can refine their pathophysiological role in a translational large animal model. These large animal studies allow us to evaluate the efficacy of various neuromodulatory therapies on diseased hearts, using high-resolution electroanatomic mapping and electrophysiological recordings.