Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia that is encountered clinically and it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A significant breakthrough in the understanding of atrial fibrallation occurred in the late 1990s when it was known that ectopic electrical activity that originates within the pulmonary veins is an important trigger for this type of arrhythmia. The pulmonary veins in most species are surrounded by an external sleeve of cardiomyocytes that extends from the left atrium towards the lungs. It is these cells that are considered to be responsible for generating the abnormal electrical activity that triggers atrial fibrillation, although the underlying mechanisms are unknown.
My current focus is on understanding the mechanisms whereby pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes generate spontaeneous electrical activity, and in particular the role that intracellular Ca²+ plays in this process. I am also interested in determining how electrical activity is propagated along the pulmonary vein to the atria, where it can then trigger atrial fibrillation. Since current drug treatments for atrial fibrallation are of limited efficacy, identification of potential novel therapeutic targets for future drug development is extremely important.
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Projects
- 1 Finished
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The role of intracellular calcium in the arrhythmogenic activity of pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes
Drummond, R. (Principal Investigator) & Rowan, E. (Co-investigator)
3/10/11 → 30/09/14
Project: Research
Research output
- 15 Article
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How selective antagonists and genetic modification have helped characterise the expression and functions of vascular P2Y receptors
Dales, M. O., Drummond, R. M. & Kennedy, C., 13 May 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Purinergic Signalling . 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)16 Downloads (Pure) -
Characterisation of P2Y receptor subtypes mediating vasodilation and vasoconstriction of rat pulmonary artery using selective antagonists
Dales, M. O., Mitchell, C., Gurney, A. M., Drummond, R. M. & Kennedy, C., 26 Aug 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Purinergic Signalling . 18, 4, p. 515-528 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)31 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
- 1 Editorial board member
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Pharmacology Research & Perspectives (Journal)
Drummond, R. (Editor)
2013 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial board member