Cardiac Sciences

We are recognised internationally for our pioneering approaches to systems biology and to computational modelling of the heart.

A translucent scan of a surface fish in which the heart is shown in three distinct sections (red, yellow and green) — The developing fish heart

Understanding heart disease using experimentation and computational physiology

The mission is to innovate and develop avenues of basic research using multi-scale experimental and computational techniques (from molecule to myocardium). The Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre is uniquely placed in Oxford to do this, because of its onsite linking of experimentation with integrative modelling. The centre is also a key component of Oxford’s BHF funded Centre of Research Excellence.

The challenge is to re-assemble the vast array of experimental data emerging over different spatial and temporal domains. The opportunity is provided by massively enhanced computing power, enhanced visualisation systems, guided by innovative and ground-breaking experimental work.

The aspiration is to exploit the predictive power of integrative biology, to tackle major issues in cardiac medicine (eg arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, regenerative medicine and repair).

The key to success is the close interplay between teams of experimentalists and computational biologists that underpin and complement the disease-led programmes of research within Clinical Departments of the Medical Sciences Division. Importantly this theme maps onto ion channels & signalling, developmental biology, genomics and metabolism which all cut across Cardiac Science.