Cardiovascular Biology and Disease

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are the leading cause of death and morbidity in the US.  CMM faculty with interests in cardiovascular biology use a wide variety of interdisciplinary approaches to investigate the molecular mechanisms of heart development, heart function, heart disease, and other malfunctions of the cardiovascular system. Particular strengths are in the areas of cardiovascular development, mechanisms of myofibril assembly and function, and cardiomyopathy. 

Cardiovascular research faculty in CMM are members of the Sarver Heart Center’s Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (MCRP). In concert with MCRP faculty from other Departments, the CMM cardiovascular group provides a strong training environment for undergraduates, medical students, graduate students, postdocs and medical residents.

Jared Churko, PhD
Assistant Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Director, iPS Cell Core
Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Assistant Professor, Genetics GIDP
Assistant Professor, Physiological Sciences GIDP
(520) 626-2347

Using informatics to understand cardiovascular development and disease mechanisms using human induced pluripotent stem cells.
Brett Colson, PhD
Associate Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences
Associate Professor, Physiological Sciences GIDP
(520) 621-1950

Deciphering the structural basis for cardiac muscle contraction at the molecular level in healthy heart physiology and disease.
Henk Granzier, PhD
Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Professor, BIO5 Insitutue
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Professor, Genetics GIDP
Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Professor, Physiological Sciences GIDP
Professor, Physiology
(520) 626-3641

Discovering mechanisms whereby the giant filamentous protein titin influence muscle structure and function.
Shanna Hamilton, PhD
Assistant Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
520-621-0303

Discovering molecular mechanisms that regulate calcium handling and contribute to arrhythmogenesis in the diseased heart.
Mei Methawasin, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
(520) 626-4198

Cardiomyocyte mechanics and Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction(HFpEF).
Coen Ottenheijm, PhD
Associate Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine - (Research Scholar Track)
(520) 626-4198

Focusing on the role of titin-based mechanosensing in diaphragm physiology.
Christopher Pappas, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
(520) 626-5209

My work is focused on understanding how the architecture of muscle cells is regulated, with particular emphasis on how actin filaments assemble and how aberrant actin filament assembly leads to myopathies.
Casey E. Romanoski, PhD
Associate Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences
Associate Professor, Genetics GIDP
Associate Professor, Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center
Associate Professor, Cancer Biology GIDP
Member, BIO5 Institute
(520) 626-7244

Systems genetics approaches to identify mechanisms of complex disease.
Marloes van den Berg, MD, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine (Career Track)
(520) 626-7616

Studying cardiopulmonary-, and skeletal muscle physiology, with a focus on diaphragm (dys)function, in small animal models.