The CONTICA researchers at the Department of Medical Physiology work under the enthusiastic supervision of Prof. Dr. Marc Vos. The central research theme of this group extends from basic research on structure-function relationship of ion channels and gap junctions in normal hearts toward disease-related arrhythmogenesis. The total program is best described as “Electrical Remodelling in the Failing Heart”.

This theme can be divided into 3 research lines:
1. Molecular and cellular basis for the development of ventricular remodelling and its arrhythmogenic consequences in hypertrophy and heart failure.
2. Prevention and suppression of electrical remodeling.
3. Tissue repair through stem cell therapy.

In all three research lines, an integrative approach is followed combining techniques of molecular biology and electrophysiology at the single cell level with whole organ, animal and patient studies to unravel the pathophysiology of cardiac arrhythmias from gene to clinic. This laboratory is well known for its sophisticated chronic AV block dog model, for which experience has been achieved during the last two decades. Scientists dedicated to the CONTICA project make use of this powerful animal model for their in vivo and in vitro studies. Please find below a list of the CONTICA researchers in Utrecht with a link to more details.