Research Interests:
The principal focus of our research is identification of disease-causing genes and elucidation of pathogenetic mechanisms in inherited disorders of the heart's contraction and rhythm. Our clinical studies focus on gene discovery studies in families with dilated cardiomyopathy and/or atrial fibrillation. The functional consequences of DNA variants identified in families are evaluated using in vitro techniques as well as in...view more
Research Interests:
The principal focus of our research is identification of disease-causing genes and elucidation of pathogenetic mechanisms in inherited disorders of the heart's contraction and rhythm. Our clinical studies focus on gene discovery studies in families with dilated cardiomyopathy and/or atrial fibrillation. The functional consequences of DNA variants identified in families are evaluated using in vitro techniques as well as in mouse and zebrafish models.
Broad Research Areas:
Cardiology and Vascular Disease
Qualifications:
BSc (Med), MB BS Syd, FRACP, MD UNSW
Society Memberships & Professional Activities:
Fellow, Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, Member, Basic Sciences Council, American Heart Association
Specific Research Keywords:
Molecular Cardiology, Cardiomyopathy, Genetics, Arrhythmias, Atrial fibrillation
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
Project title: Decoding inherited heart disease
Discipline: Molecular Cardiology
Project level: PhD/MRsch/Hons/ILPs – Projects can be tailored to all levels
Supervisor / supervisory team: Professor Diane Fatkin, Dr Claire Horvat
Project commencement: variable
Summary: This project will use cutting-edge whole-genome sequencing to identify disease-causing genetic variants in families with dilated cardiomyopathy and/or atrial fibrillation.
Project title: Genotype-phenotype correlations in families with dilated cardiomyopathy
Discipline: Molecular Cardiology
Project level: PhD/MRsch/Hons/ILPs - Projects can be tailored to all levels
Supervisor / supervisory team: Professor Diane Fatkin, Dr Renee Johnson
Project commencement: variable
Summary: This project involves genetic analysis of families with dilated cardiomyopathy and correlation of genetic variants with clinical status. The potential impact of background genetic variation and lifestyle factors on the disease phenotypes will be investigated.
Project title: Gene-environment interactions in familial dilated cardiomyopathy: insights from zebrafish models
Discipline: Molecular Cardiology
Project level: PhD/MRsch/Hons/ILPs - Projects can be tailored to all levels
Supervisor / supervisory team: Professor Diane Fatkin, Dr Inken Martin
Project commencement: variable
Summary: This project will use genetically-engineered zebrafih models to evaluate the functional effects of human genetic variants and the potential modifying effects of environmental factors. It involves the use of cutting-edge tools to assess heart function in embryonic and adult fish.
