Lay summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder, but we still don’t fully understand what causes it at the cellular level. Because of this, current treatments often don’t work well for many patients. This project aims to find out how tiny structures inside heart cells - called tubules - change in people with AF and how those changes may contribute to the condition. Using advanced 3D imaging, we will study heart cells from both healthy and AF-affected animals to look for differences in structure. We will also test medications and use computer models to see how these changes impact heart function. Our team combines expertise in heart research, imaging, and engineering. By better understanding what happens inside heart cells during AF, we hope to help develop more effective and targeted treatments. This research tackles a major health problem using modern, cost-effective tools and could ultimately improve care for people living with AF.