Cranley lab

Cardiac Functional Genomics Laboratory

We aim to understand how genes shape the way cells work, using the electrical activity of heart muscle cells as a starting point.

Every heartbeat depends on precisely timed electrical signals. Disruption of these signals can cause dangerous heart rhythm disorders. Yet we still have a limited understanding of how the many genes active in a heart cell combine to control its electrical behaviour.

Our research will bring together genomics, live-cell imaging and machine learning to connect the molecular identity of a cell with its function. By comparing cells at different stages of development and with genetic changes linked to disease, we will investigate why their electrical behaviour differs. These experiments will inform computational models that predict how cell function responds to genetic changes.

By connecting genes to cell function, we hope to uncover new treatment targets for heart rhythm disorders and develop approaches that can be applied to other specialised cells in health and disease.