Project 171469
Iroquois transcription factors in cardiac development and function
Iroquois transcription factors in cardiac development and function
Project Information
| Study Type: | Other Mechanistic_Study |
| Therapeutic Area: | Cardiovascular |
| Research Theme: | Biomedical |
| Disease Area: | cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias |
| Data Type: | Canadian |
Institution & Funding
| Principal Investigator(s): | Hui, Chi-Chung |
| Co-Investigator(s): | Backx, Peter H |
| Institution: | Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto) |
| CIHR Institute: | Circulatory and Respiratory Health |
| Program: | |
| Peer Review Committee: | Cardiovascular System - A: Cells and Tissues |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
| Term: | 5 yrs 0 mth |
Abstract Summary
Cardiomyopathies and arrythmias are common congenital heart diseases. The molecular basis of these diseases is not well understood but they are generally believed to involve abnormal physiological functions of cardiac muscle cells. We have been studying a class of regulatory genes involved in heart development and function. Genetic studies in mice revealed that they act as switches to turn on or off genes that are involved in establishing action potentials in different regions of the heart and play important role in proper physiological functioning of the adult heart. Importantly, mutant mice lacking these regulatory factors develop cardiomyopathies and arrythmias, providing excellent models for studying these common human disorders. In the proposed research, we will dissect the function of these factors during heart development and decipher their actions in the adult heart.
Research Characteristics
This project includes the following research characteristics:
Study Justification
"In the proposed research, we will dissect the function of these factors during heart development and decipher their actions in the adult heart."
Novelty Statement
"Importantly, mutant mice lacking these regulatory factors develop cardiomyopathies and arrythmias, providing excellent models for studying these common human disorders."
Methodology Innovation
investigating the role of Iroquois transcription factors in cardiac development and function using mutant mouse models