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Andrew L. Wit, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology in the Center for Molecular Therapeutics
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Research
Summary
Mechanisms for arrhythmias caused by cardiac disease
Cardiac diseases cause the heart to beat abnormally, either with very rapid or very slow rhythms that often originate in areas modified by the disease. The abnormal rhythms, known as cardiac arrhythmias, compromise the ability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the demands of the major organs of the body and may cause death. Our research is to determine why and how these abnormal rhythms occur, particularly in the setting of myocardial ischemia and infarction. We study the effects of ischemia caused by coronary artery occlusion on the initiation and propagation of electrical impulses in the intact heart of experimental animals. Computerized instrumentation has been designed to record the electrical activity at a large number of sites and to analyze the waveforms. Studies on cardiac cells isolated from arrhythmogenic areas of the heart enable us to determine how disease alters ion channel function. These procedures and experiments enable us to determine why and how arrhythmias are occurring. Once we learn the mechanisms, our long-term goal is to develop drugs that can restore the normal heart beat.
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Selected Publications:
1. Yao J-A, Hussain W, Patel P, Peters NS, Boyden P, Wit AL. (2003) Remodeling of gap junctional channel function in epicardial border zone of healing canine infarcts Circ Res
92:437-443
2. Chiello-Tracy C, Cabo C, Coromilas J, Kurokawa J, Kass RS, Wit AL (2003) Electrophysiological consequences of human IKS channel expression in adult murine heart Am J Physiol Heart Physiol
284:H168-H175
3. Coromilas J, Costeas C, Deruyter B, Dillon SM, Peters NS, Wit AL (2002) Effects of pinacidil on electrophysiological properties of epicardial border zone of healing canine infarcts. Possible effects of KATP channel activation. Circulation
105:2309-2317
4. Costeas C, Peters NS, Waldecker B, Wit AL, Coromilas J (1997) Mechanisms causing sustained ventricular tachycardias with multiple QRS Morphologies; results of mapping studies in the infarcted canine heart Circulation
96:3721-3731
5. Peters NS, Coromilas J, Severs NJ, Wit AL (1997) Disturbed connexin 43 gap junction distribution correlates with the location of reentrant circuits in the epicardial border zone of healing canine infarcts that cause ventricular tachycardia Circulation
95:988-996
6. Coromilas J, Saltman AE, Waldecker B, Dillon SM, Wit AL (1995) Electrophysiological effects of flecainide on anisotropic conduction and reentry in infarcted canine hearts Circulation
91:2245-2263
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Honors and Awards
(2003) Distinguished Scientist Award of the North American Society of Pacing and Cardiac Electrophysiology; Heart Rhythm Association.
Class of 2003 Teacher of the Year Award
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University 5/01
Fellow of the American Heart Association (F.A.H.A.)
Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences – American Heart Association 4/01
Class of 2000 Teacher Recognition Award
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University 4/00
Class of 2001 Teacher of the Year Award
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University 5/99
Class of 2000 Teacher of the Year Award
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University 5/98
1998 Gender Equity Award; American Medical Women's Association
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University 5/98
The Charles W. Bohmfalk Award for Distinguished Contributions to
Teaching in the Pre-Clinical Sciences
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University 5/94
American College of Cardiology Honorary Fellowship Award 3/93
1992 Thomas Lewis Award of Los Angeles Cardiac Electrophysiology Society
Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching
Columbia University 5/97
Committees
Chairman; Institutional Review Board for Human Investigation (Board 1)
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