< Back to previous page

Project

Inherited cardiac arrhythmias: identification of novel genes and development of a new diagnostic tool for translating genetic diagnosis into precision medicine.

Inherited cardiac arrhythmias (ICA) are a group of predominantly autosomal dominant disorders characterized by a disturbed cardiac action potential that can lead to sudden cardiac death at a young age. Although currently more than 50 genes have been associated with ICA, in roughly 70% of the patients the precise genetic cause is still unknown. Moreover, this group of diseases is genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous and in a molecular diagnostic setting many variants of unknown pathogenic significance are detected, hampering proper risk stratification and efficient patient management. In a unique interfaculty collaboration between the Centre of Medical Genetics, the Cardiology department, the Laboratory of Experimental Hematology and Laboratory for Molecular Biophysics, Physiology and Pharmacology, we envision to address these needs in a project with two major aims: the identification of novel genes implicated in ICA and the development of a new diagnostic tool that allows functional phenotypic evaluation of the effect of genetic variants detected in ICA patients and family members. The first aim will be achieved using linkage analysis and state-of-the-art whole-genome sequencing in phenotypically well-characterized but genetically unresolved families, followed by functional characterization of the identified candidate variants. The second aim will be accomplished by the construction and electrophysiological characterization of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). Focusing on the Brugada syndrome (BrS) as a proof-of-principle, iPSC-CMs will be created from fibroblasts of family members carrying an identical BrS-causing mutation but with different phenotypic expression of disease severity, and of BrS patients with a variant of unknown significance in the SCN5A gen. These powerful approaches in combination with the existing expertise in the different collaborating teams, will definitely allow accomplishing the envisioned ultimate goals of the project. As a result, a genetic diagnosis in a larger proportion of ICA families will be reached and can be translated into a personalized functional interpretation of the genetic result in patients and relatives. This will introduce the concept of precision medicine, tailoring proper risk stratification and efficient use of preventive and therapeutic measures for the individual patient.
Date:1 Jan 2017 →  31 Dec 2020
Keywords:GENE IDENTIFICATION, DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, HEART DISEASES, SUDDEN DEATH
Disciplines:Cardiac and vascular medicine, Laboratory medicine, Medical systems biology, Molecular and cell biology