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Fadi G. Akar, Ph.D. completed his doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and his post-doctoral training in molecular cardiology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Akar was subsequently promoted to assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Johns Hopkins University from 2004 to 2007. Dr. Akar joined the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2007, where he established the Cardiac Bioelectricity Research Laboratory. The Akar lab is dedicated to uncovering the mechanisms that promote arrhythmias in common structural heart diseases and to develop novel gene-based approaches to prevent these malignant arrhythmias.
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Education
BS, Pennsylvania State University
MS, Case Western Reserve University
PhD, Case Western Reserve University
Postdoc, Johns Hopkins University
Summary of Research Focus:
The mission of the Akar Cardiac Bioelectricity Research Laboratory is to uncover the mechanisms underlying sudden cardiac death across a variety of clinically relevant structural heart diseases. We specialize in developing integrative tools that allow us to undertake a systems biology approach to the investigation of arrhythmia mechanisms and to test novel treatment strategies.
We specialize in the use of integrative methodologies for the investigation of electrical disorders, including state-of-the-art imaging technologies for the assessment of electrical heterogeneities across the heart. A major focus of our work is the investigation of abnormalities in impulse formation, conduction, and repolarization using high-resolution optical mapping, and the elucidation of underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, using electrophysiological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. Specific areas of active research include mechanisms of mechano-electrical feedback, the electrophysiology of mechanical dyssynchrony and resynchronization therapy in canine and porcine models of heart failure, the interaction of myocardial energetics and electrical function in post-ischemic remodeling and reperfusion related arrhythmias, and the role of altered gene expression and targeted gene delivery on ion channel function and arrhythmogenesis in cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiac Bioelectricity Research Laboratory
Fadi G. Akar, PhD, FHRS - Principal Investigator
Current Members:
Chaoqin Xie, MD
Jun Hu, PhD
Lukas J. Motloch, MD, PhD
Alejandro Chavez, BS
Wonjoon Koh, BS
Benjamin Strauss, BS
Alumni:
Justin Kauffman, BS
Nora Biary, BS
Parash Pokharel, MD
Sarah Rooney, BS
Craig Feibusch, MS
Christopher Ovanez, MD
R. Daniel Nass, MD
Hongwei Jin, PhD
Alexander Lyon, MD, PhD
Dongzhu Jin, MD, PhD
Basil Karam, BS
Grants & Funding:
Ongoing Projects:
- Electrophysiological remodeling underlying arrhythmias during the transition from compensated hypertrophy to end stage heart failure
- Integrative investigation of mitochondrial dysfunction and its role in arrhythmogenesis
- Modulation of conduction and arrhythmias by metabolic processes
- Modulation of Cardiac Contractility and Calcium Handling by Accessory Potassium Channel Subunits
- Gene transfer of calcium handling proteins for reversing pathological electrical remodeling in heart failure
- Small Molecules Targeting Serca2a - Phospholamban Interactions for Treating Mechano-electrical Dysfunction in Heart Failure
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Dr. Akar is not currently required to report Industry relationships.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.