Cardiac arrhythmias are major causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Yet, despite many years of research, understanding the precise mechanisms of the most complex arrhythmias, including atrial and ventricular fibrillation remains elusive. New approaches to identifying ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent cardiac arrhythmias will require the use of highly sophisticated tools that, in many cases, would consist of combinations of multiple technologies including, genetics, molecular and structural biology, directed differentiation of cloned embryonic stem cells, immunochemistry, patch-clamping, optical and high density electrode mapping of electrical wave propagation, and computer modeling. The meeting will focus on both basic science and the clinically relevant key scientific topics. It provides an ideal setting for interdisciplinary interactions between physiologists, molecular biologists, biophysicists, biomedical engineers, clinicians as required for addressing the complex phenomena of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. The plan is to invite the top experts in their respective fields to a forum where they can present and together discuss the most exciting new contributions to the understanding of the mechanisms of cardiac rhythm disturbances.

Program Committee: Jose Jalife (Chair), Igor Efimov (Co-Chair), Glenn Fishman, Andre Kleber, Gideon Koren, Barry London, Michael Rosen, Yoram Rudy, Guy Salama. Logo By: Florence Rothenberg.

The GRC on Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms is responsive to the needs of a diverse community and reaches out to include people of diverse ethnic, racial, economic, and gender groups.