How does sinoatrial node disease maintain atrial fibrillation? A study of structural and electrical heterogeneity in the right atrium and around the sinoatrial node complex.
A group of researchers in Manchester, led by Dr Gwilym Morris are working to understand why a common heart rhythm problem resists treatment in some patients. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting more than one million people in the UK. To get the heart rhythm back under control, patients often have a procedure called catheter ablation which uses heat or freezing to destroy areas of the heart which are producing the faulty signal. Ablation is effective for treating short-term atrial fibrillation, but is less effective for treating longer lasting AF, also known as ‘persistent AF’. With BHF funding, Dr Morris will study the electrical abnormalities in persistent AF in detail, to better understand why treatments are less effective. Research shows that problems with the hearts natural pacemaker – the sinoatrial node (SA) – are often present in people who have persistent AF. Dr Morris will investigate how sinoatrial node disease (SND) might make it more difficult to treat patients who have AF. The researchers will map how both AF and SND interact with one another to better understand both diseases. In future, the findings could lead to new, long awaited treatments for persistent AF.
Project details
| Grant amount | £891,812 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Fellowships |
| Application type | Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship |
| Start Date | 01 April 2019 |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Reference | FS/18/47/33669 |
| Status | In Progress |
