The University of Tokyo · Medicine
Professor Tetsuo Sasano's research lab focuses on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation (AF) and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF). The lab investigates the role of inflammation and genetic factors—such as IRX3 mutations—in the development of arrhythmogenic substrates, aiming to uncover novel therapeutic targets. A key research direction involves translating basic insights into improved risk stratification and preventive strategies for sudden cardiac death in structurally normal hearts. The lab also explores the pathophysiology of persistent and long-standing AF, with an emphasis on substrate remodeling and the potential for innovative ablation and pharmacological interventions.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias encountered in clinical practice. AF is a major risk factor for stroke, which is associated with high mortality and great disability and causes a significant burden on society. With the development of catheter ablation, AF has become a treatable disease, but its therapeutic outcome has been limited so far. In persistent and long-standing AF, the expanded AF substrate is difficult to treat only by ablation, and a better understanding
IRX3 genetic defects and resultant functional perturbation in the His-Purkinje system are novel genetic risk factors of idiopathic VF, and would improve risk stratification and preventive therapy for SCD in otherwise healthy hearts.
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