Research:
- imaging of Ca2+- and voltage-dynamics in the living heart using two-photon fluoescence microscopy
- cellular elctrophysiology using microelectrode and patch-clamp techniques
- assessment of donor-host cell electromechanical coupling in living heart
- electrical coupling between cardiomyocytes and myofibroblasts in the diseased heart
- 3D reconstruction of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system
- generation of genetically engineered reporter mice
- arrhythmogenic mechanisms in a mouse model of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycrdia associated with mutations in the Calm1 gene
Research in Dr. Rubart-von der Lohe's lab focuses on a) mechanisms underlying inherited cardiac arrhythmias associated with calmodulin gene mutations and b) the role of connexin gap junctions between myofibroblasts and cardiomyocytes in cardiac electrical remodeling. Major experimental approaches include the generation of genetically engineered mouse models, the patch-clamp technique, two-photon fluorescence microscopy, and optical voltage mapping.
