Research Focus

• Elucidation of novel signaling mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy and atrial arrhythmia. A specific example includes endocannabinoid signaling in heart muscle cells.
• Mechanisms of defective artery function in hypertension, and effects of candidate dietary interventions.

Why is this work important?

The goal of our research program is to understand how risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and atrial arrhythmia, promote the development of heart failure. Our ultimate aim is to identify new therapeutics, from a nutritional or naturally-occurring perspective, that prevent or slow the onset of heart failure.

What techniques and equipment are used in this laboratory?

• in vivo study of cardiovascular disease: echocardiography, tail-cuff plethysmography
• in vitro study of cardiac myocytes (cell culture, microscopy, biochemical assays)
• in vitro study of arteries: pressure myography

About Hope Anderson

Dr. Hope Anderson is the Dean of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba. The goal of her research program is to understand how risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiac hypertrophy (abnormal growth of the heart), and arrhythmia promote the development of heart failure. Her ultimate aim is to identify new therapies, perhaps from a nutritional perspective, that prevent or slow the onset of heart failure. To achieve this aim, Dr. Anderson’s laboratory at the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre uses several models of cardiovascular disease of escalating complexity ranging from cultured heart muscle cells, to isolated hearts and arteries, to hearts and arteries in vivo.