Computational modelling of multi-scale cardiac electrical dynamics

Physics of the Heart: Computational modelling of multi-scale cardiac electrical dynamics

Date: 5 May 2017
Time: 14:00 to 15:00
Location: EC Stoner 9.00
Speaker: Michael Colman (Biology)

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world, yet current treatment strategies are sub-optimal. There is therefore a pressing need to develop greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying abnormal rhythm in the heart in order to develop more effective prevention and treatment approaches.

Computational modelling - simulation of the electrical and mechanical activity of the heart - has become an increasingly powerful tool in the wider effort to understand, diagnose and treat cardiac disorders. In particular, computational modelling allows true multi-scale investigation, linking behaviour at the sub-cellular scale to organ scale phenomena. My research interests lie at the interface of physics and biomedical science, in the application of mathematical and physics techniques currently used for theoretical investigation to develop advanced multi-scale computational frameworks for simulation of cardiac activity.

This seminar will: (i) introduce the basics of cardiac cellular and tissue electrophysiology, discussing the basic mechanisms underlying cardiac function; (ii) introduce approaches to developing multi-scale mathematical models of cardiac electrical dynamics; (iii) demonstrate the application of relatively simple models to dissecting abnormal cardiac function and; (iv) discuss the role of random fluctuations and intrinsic feedback mechanisms at the microscopic scale in the development of organ-scale disorders.