10-Minute Interview

Electrophysiology is logical and mechanistic, is loaded with satisfying and effective clinical therapies, but also abounds in important and interesting research questions. A case with AVNRT and multiple bystander pathways comes to mind. Vanderbilt has extensive research in ICD therapy (focusing on the application of ATP for fast VT, Mark Wathen); heart rate variability and signal processing (Jeff Rottman); genetics of arrhythmias (Dan Roden, Dawood Darbar, and Prince Kannenkeril); ionic mechanisms of arrhythmias (myself, Kathy Murray and Dan Roden); cellular signaling in arrhythmias (myself, Dan Roden, and Kathy Murray) and structural heart disease (myself); and congenital and pediatric arrhythmias (Frank Fish and Prince Kannenkeril). My advice would be to pick an important, unsolved problem and to stay focused. I think the improved understanding of the biological basis for arrhythmias will lead to a new and more successful generation of drug therapies that fundamentally address the biological underpinnings of structural (and electrical) heart disease.