Ultra-fast 3D heart imaging to understand atrial fibrillation
Kilohertz 3D Optical Mapping of Atrial Fibrillation in Beating Zebrafish Hearts
This project uses ultra-fast 3D imaging of tiny transparent zebrafish hearts to capture how electrical signals and heart motion interact in atrial fibrillation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129923 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will film beating embryonic zebrafish hearts with high-speed 3D optical cameras to record both the electrical waves and the heart muscle motion at the same time. They will develop and apply algorithms to separate true electrical signals from motion-related blurring so the heart does not need to be stopped with drugs. By preserving the natural beating, the team aims to observe electromechanical decoupling events that may underlie atrial fibrillation. The findings could point to mechanisms relevant to human AF and guide later studies that translate those discoveries toward new diagnostics or treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with atrial fibrillation who want to support basic research or be considered for future related clinical studies would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Because the work uses zebrafish and lab imaging rather than testing therapies in people, patients seeking immediate treatment improvement are unlikely to benefit directly from this grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how electrical and mechanical problems interact to cause atrial fibrillation, guiding development of better treatments or diagnostics.
How similar studies have performed: Optical mapping in animal models has helped researchers learn about heart signals before, but ultra-fast 3D mapping of beating hearts without stopping motion is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Liang — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Gao, Liang
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.