Fibrosis
In response to injury, most organs undergo a degree of fibrosis. The heart is conspicuous in its propensity to form scar (fibrotic) tissue and lead to heart failure.
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Extracellular Matrix Dynamics During Remodeling
The structure of the heart changes over the course of health and disease. The Jones laboratory investigates how the structure of the heart changes during heart failure and develops interventions to assuage such pathology. Their integrative work unravels the fundamental composition of the heart, and new avenues include understanding how physical activity can influence these mechanisms.
The Role of Metabolism in Cardiac Fibrosis
The cardiac response to injury involves the secretion of large amounts of extracellular matrix, which participates in cardiac repair, but can also worsen myocardial compliance and function. The Hill laboratory is examining metabolic mechanisms that support extracellular matrix deposition in the heart. This work could lead to targeted strategies to optimize the cardiac response to injury and prevent maladaptive fibrosis.
The Role of Extracellular Matrix in Cardiovascular Cell Communication and Heart Health
The Moore laboratory is investigating the role of the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) in cell communication, heart function and disease progression throughout life stages and conditions such as cardiomyopathy and fibrosis. The Moore examines how ECM composition and architecture, particularly changes driven by fibroblasts, affect cardiac structure, mechanics and cell behavior in disease and health. The aim of this research is to develop ECM-targeted therapies that promote beneficial fibroblast behavior and cardiomyocyte recovery for innovative treatments to improve outcomes for heart failure patients.
Systematic Identification of Cardiotoxic E-cigarette Flavorants
This program in the Carll laboratory addresses e-cigarettes and their impact on heart rhythms. Researchers iteratively test popular flavors in e-cigarettes to identify which components may have greater or lesser impacts on heart rhythms. Insights from this program could inform future regulatory actions by the FDA.
Heart Failure Induced Muscle Atrophy
Muscle wasting in heart failure patients is a serious complication associated with decreased exercise capacity, poor quality of life, and increased mortality. The Baba laboratory investigates how heart failure leads to muscle wasting and develop mechanism-based therapeutics, which could improve the quality of life and concomitantly mitigate heart failure complications.