Computer modelling of abnormal cardiac repolarisation, including comparison with real clinical data

Objective

Research objectives and content
An electrocardiogram is usually recorded from all patients with heart problems Electrical recovery of the heart after each beat is essential, and can be seen clearly on the electrocardiogram Differences in electrical recovery time as seen from different electrodes appear to provide a useful indicator of underlying heart disease, but as yet cardiologists do not know enough about this process to make clinical use of the information This project will show how the electrocardiogram can be interpreted to give cardiologists useful clinical data from different regions of the heart. This research proposal will investigate and quantify how well mathematical models of cardiac repolarisation account for the for a range of T wave abnormalities - including bundle branch block, T wave inversion in infarction, ST depression and elevation in all 12 leads of simultaneously recorded 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs). The simplest models will be studied with normal ECGs, and the models extended to take account of varying propagation patterns and more complex pathways.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
The objective is to acquire knowledge both in the engineering field, particularly in mathematical modelling of biological systems, biomedical data acquisition and processing, and in the medical field, on the cardiovascular system the interaction with patients, and with the experts of the medical field Moreover, I will have a unique opportunity to learn to 'fill the gap' between the world of engineering sciences and that of medical sciences More and more collaboration is now required between these two worlds in order to go beyond the limits of both sciences. I hope I will be able to come back to Naples, in Campania (Italy), my birth place, where I will try to improve the way of living of people in this region, with what I learned during my PhD.
Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
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Fields of science

• medical and health sciences
• natural sciences › mathematics › applied mathematics › mathematical model

Programme(s)

• FP4-TMR - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of the training and mobility of researchers, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0301 - Post-graduate research training grants
• TI05 - Electronics

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)

Coordinator

University of Newcastle Upon Tyne

Address

Westgate Road
NE4 6BE Newcastle - Upon Tyne
United Kingdom

Participants (1)

Not available

Italy