Contact Information

Office: 2269A CBRB
Phone: 319-384-2890
Faculty Profile

Brief description of current research:

My research interests focus on structural and functional studies of cardiac excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling / Ca2+ handling under normal and disease conditions, such as heart failure, arrhythmias, diabetes, etc. Using novel genetic mouse models, we employ state of the art techniques such as in situ confocal imaging of myocyte T-tubule system and local and global Ca2+ signals in Langendorff-perfused intact hearts. In particular, we are interested in understanding how myocyte T-tubule membrane system becomes disrupted in response to cardiac stress and contributes to heart dysfunction. Our research projects are funded by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

3 most influential diabetes/obesity/metabolism publications

• Song LS*, Sobie EA, McCulle S, Lederer WJ, Balke CW, and Cheng H. Orphaned RyRs in the failing heart. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences 2006; 103:4305-4310 (*, corresponding author).
• Wei S, Guo A, Chen B, Kutschke W, Xie YP, Zimmerman K, Weiss R, Anderson ME, Cheng H, Song LS. T-tubule remodeling during transition from hypertrophy to heart failure. Circulation Research 2010; 107:520-531.
• Joiner ML, Koval OM, Li J, He BJ, Allamargot C, Gao Z, Luczak ED, Hall DD, Fink BD, Chen B, Yang J, Moore SA, Scholz TD, Strack S, Mohler PJ, Sivitz WI, Song LS, Anderson ME. CaMKII determines mitochondria stress response in heart. Nature 2012; 491(7423):269-73.

Quote:

Calcium is everywhere! Calcium is a ubiquitous second messenger involved in numerous physiological and pathological conditions.