Fadi Akar
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Address:
Institute of Molecular Cardiobiology
720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 844
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: (410) 614-0033
Fax: (410) 502-2096
E-mail: akar@jhu.edu
Website: http://tomaselli-lab.jhmi.edu/~fakar/homepage.htm
CV
Research Interest Statement
Investigation of Arrhythmia mechanisms at multiple levels of integration: We specialize in the use of integrative methodologies for the investigation of arrhythmia mechanisms in the heart. This involves developing novel imaging technologies, including voltage, calcium, and sodium fluorescent techniques for the assessment of electrical heterogeneities across the heart. A major focus of my work is the investigation of abnormalities in impulse formation, conduction, and repolarization using high-resolution optical mapping, and the elucidation of underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, using state-of-the-art electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques. Specific areas of active research include mechanisms of mechano-electrical feedback, the electrophysiology of mechanical dyssynchrony and resynchronization therapy in canine models of heart failure, the interaction of myocardial energetics and electrical function in post-ischemic remodeling and reperfusion related arrhythmias, the role of altered gene expression on ion channel function and arrhythmogenesis in transgenic mouse models of cardiovascular diseases, and the development of realistic computational models of cardiac bioelectric properties.
Current Projects
Publications
Akar FG* , Aon MA*, Tomaselli GF, O'Rourke B (2005). Mitochondrial origin of post-ischemic arrhythmias. J Clin Invest. 2005 Dec;115(12):3527-35 .
Nass RD , Aon MA, Cingolani C, O'Rourke B, Tomaselli GF, Akar FG (2005). Dynamic Regulation of Differentially Phosphorylated Isoforms of Cx43 During Development of Heart Failure. Circulation Research In review.
Akar FG , Hahn S, Tompkins CM, Tunin RS, Tomaselli GF (2005). Time-course and nature of electrophysiological remodeling during progression of left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. Circulation In review.
Akar FG , Tomaselli GF (2005). Ion channels as novel therapeutic targets in heart failure. Ann Med (37)1:44-54.
Spragg DD*, Akar FG* , Helm RH, Tunin RS, Tomaselli GF, Kass DA (2005). Abnormal conduction and repolarization in late-activated myocardium of dyssynchronously contracting hearts. Cardiovasc Res May 6; [Epub ahead of print]
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Presentations
"Electrophysiological Remodeling in the Structurally Diseased Heart: New Insights," Heart Rhythm Society, 36 th annual scientific sessions, Boston , MA , May 19, 2006.
" Optical Imaging of Arrhythmias in Heart Failure,"The International Society for Computerized Electrocardiology, 31st Annual Conference, Niagara , Ontario
April 22 - 27, 2006 .
"The Mitochondrial Origin of Post-Ischemic Arrhythmias," Melvin L. Marcus Award of the American Heart Association, Dallas Texas , November 12, 2005.
"Ventricular Connexin Remodeling in CHF," 72 nd annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association , Dallas , TX , November 2005.
"Dispersion of Conduction and Repolarization in the Failing Heart," 35 th annual scientific sessions, Heart Rhythm Society, New Orleans , LA , May 2005.
Resynchronization and Remodeling," 34 th annual scientific sessions, North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology, San Francisco, CA, May 2005.
