U.S.-Korea Cooperative Research on Normal/Abnormal Cardiac Rhythms

本提案请求资金允许匹兹堡大学生物科学系Teresa R. Chay博士与汉阳大学Young Seek Lee博士进行为期24个月的正常/异常心律合作研究项目。本研究将包括两部分内容：(1)通过膜片钳记录研究心脏细胞的单通道活动特性；(2)利用非线性动力学理论和抗心律失常药物的作用来理解心律失常。对脉冲起始和传播的计算机模拟将显示离子通道性质的变化如何使系统陷入混沌。这些研究将使研究人员能够预测心律失常的发生，并预测已知阻断钠、钙和钾离子通道的抗心律失常物质的作用。先进的科学计算机的可用性极大地扩展了使用数学建模作为研究生理过程的方法的可能性。这项研究的最终目标是全面了解心脏节律性活动背后的电现象。美国和韩国的合作伙伴不仅有丰富的个人研究记录，而且在提案领域也有成功的合作记录。该项目与美韩合作科学项目的目标相关，该项目旨在通过科学信息、思想、技能和技术的交流以及在互利问题上的合作，提高美韩科学家和工程师之间的合作水平。韩国参与该项目得到了韩国科学工程财团（KOSEF）的支持。该项目的主要研究费用由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）资助。DCB-8819245，本项目在此基础上增加了国际合作的维度。

This proposal requests funds to permit Dr. Teresa R. Chay, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, to pursue with Dr. Young Seek Lee, Hanyang University, for a period of 24 months, a program of cooperative research on normal/abnormal cardiac rhythms. The research will consist of two parts, (1) studying the properties of single channel activity in the heart cells from patch-clamp recordings and (2) understanding cardiac arrhythmias by the theory of nonlinear dynamics and the effects of antiarrhythmic drugs. Computer simulation of impulse initiations and propagation will show how changes in the ionic channel properties would bring the system to chaos. These studies will allow the researchers to predict the onset of arrhythmias and predict the effect of antiarrhythmic substances known to block sodium, calcium, and potassium ion channels. The availability of advanced scientific computers has greatly expanded the possibility for using mathematical modeling as an approach to the study of physiological processes. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a thorough understanding of the electrical phenomena that underlie the rhythmic activity of the heart. The U.S. and Korean collaborators not only have extensive individual research records but also a record of successful collaboration in the field of the proposal. This project is relevant to the objectives of the U.S.-Korea Cooperative Science Program which seeks to increase the level of cooperation between U.S. and Korean scientists and engineers through the exchange of scientific information, ideas, skills, and techniques and through collaboration on problems of mutual benefit. Korean participation in the project is supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF). The PI's primary research costs are supported under NSF Grant No. DCB-8819245, to which the present project adds an international cooperative dimension.