heart of the matter

31 October 2004

A collaboration led by Professor David Paterson at the University Laboratory of Physiology – and including bioengineers from the University of Auckland in New Zealand – will be using computer models and other techniques to relate detailed genomic information to model the structure and function of the heart as a whole organ.

The aim of the 'heart physiome project' is to demonstrate the use of integrative multi-scale modelling – at the levels of atoms, proteins, cells, tissues and organs – as ‘proof of concept’.

Since biological systems are extremely complex, the team will develop specially designed instrumentation, databases and software to help understand the genetic basis of mechanisms underlying arrhythmia in the heart. These tools will be accessible on the web for other investigators to use in further studies.