Grant: Project Grant

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, affecting nearly one million Canadians and costing the healthcare system over $950 million each year. AF increases the risk of serious conditions like stroke, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death, yet current treatments often fall short. Both lifestyle factors and genetics play a role in AF, and recent research has uncovered many genetic variants linked to the disease. However, we still don't fully understand how these genes contribute to AF. This project focuses on one key gene, PITX2, which helps regulate heart development and function. Using zebrafish and cell models, we will study how changes in PITX2 affect heart metabolism and lead to AF. Our research suggests that losing PITX2 function causes stress in heart cells, which may trigger arrhythmias. We aim to uncover the molecular pathways involved and explore whether targeting these pathways can slow or prevent AF. By combining advanced genetic tools and animal models, this work could lead to new insights into AF and pave the way for better treatments.