Hong-Sheng Wang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Ph.D., SUNY at Stony Brook, 1997   Email: HongSheng.Wang@uc.edu Tel. (513)558-2379   Research

Ion channels are pore-forming membrane proteins. Transmembrane ionic currents generated by ion channels are the basis of electrical activities of excitable tissues, including the heart. Alterations of ionic currents are a major factor in various cardiac diseases such as arrhythmias. We are interested in the role of ion channels in controlling the electrical and mechanical properties of cardiac cells. We are also interested in how alterations of ion channel expression and/or properties contribute to abnormal myocyte electrical and mechanical properties in various disease conditions such as heart failure and arrhythmias. We employ electrophysiology, protein chemistry and molecular biology techniques in the lab. In addition, we use mathematical modeling and the real-time dynamic clamp technique to address these questions. The later approach combines computer simulation with experimental biology, and allows us to simulate artificial ionic conductances in real, live cells. A second major focus of our lab is to understand both the acute effects of endogenous estrogen and environmental endocrine disrupters on the physiology of the heart and the role they play in cardiac diseases.

Publications