KITP Scientist

Multi-Scale Physics of Normal and Diseased Heart: from Ion Channels to Whole Organ

I was accepted to be part of this program and will be taking part in research activities for a full month in Santa Barbara. During this time I will present two talks on different topics in order to spark discussion between the attending participants.

This program will bring together experimentalists, clinicians, and researchers from physics, mathematics, and engineering to explore arrhythmias from the molecular to the whole organ scale. The first week of the program will explore recent progress on the molecular basis of cardiac arrhythmias, specifically examining how genetic disruptions can initiate these conditions. In week two, the program will focus on the latest progress on cellular-level phenomena such as disturbances in calcium signaling and the formation of dangerous electrical excitations. The third week will explore tissue-scale phenomena such as ectopic excitations and reentry. The final week will be dedicated to translating these scientific insights into clinical applications. Throughout the program, there will be a strong emphasis on fostering collaboration between experimentalists and theorists, with the goal of developing innovative tools for diagnosing, predicting, and treating arrhythmias.