Impact of Gene-editing on the Arrhythmogenic Phenotype of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

• Applicant: Nour Raad, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology ; Biophysics
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 525586804

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive and fatal disease caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. Ventricular arrhythmia is a primary contributor to mortality in this group. Using a pre-clinical porcine model of DMD, our aim is twofold: 1. to elucidate a mechanism underlying the increased vulnerability to fatal arrhythmia by adopting state-of-the-art high resolution optical mapping techniques, 2. to characterize the effect of truncated dystrophin in preventing sudden cardiac death.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Christian Kupatt