Grant: Operating Grant

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality both in developed and developing countries. Understanding cardiac development and pathological mechanisms has become indispensable for development of new and more efficient ways to cure cardiac diseases. Most importantly, congenital heart anomalies represent the most common human birth defect, and are the leading cause of death in the first year of life. Such defects involve structural abnormalities of the heart, primary cardiac muscle disorders, and disturbances of cardiac rhythm. We study cardiac membrane system called endoplasmic reticulum, which under stress conditions reacts by developing specific stress coping mechanisms that may be a basis for cardiac pathology. Our research focuses on the development of basic and clinical tools to control this membrane stress responses. This will have a major impact on the advancement of research and general knowledge. It will also provide invaluable information for the development of drugs and therapies for cardiac diseases.