Grant: Operating Grant

A delicate balance exists between cell growth and cell death. In the context of the adult myocardium inappropriate or inordinate cell loss through an apoptotic process may profoundly influence cardiac structure and/or function given the limited and meager ability of the heart for repair after injury. The ability to prevent or modulate inappropriate cardiac cell death would be of significant therapeutic value in maintaining cardiac function after injury. These studies will provide new information and advance our current understanding regarding the mechanisms that govern cell death in the heart. The long-term goals of these studies are directed towards understanding the mechanisms that underlie aberrant apoptosis in hypertrophic and failing hearts. This will lead to the development of new more effective treatments for patients with heart disease.