Page 36 - CBAC Newsletter 2016

Vistors From Across the Pond

Spotted In the Yoram Rudy Lab Continued

Michele Orini and Neil Srinivasan were here to perform analysis of a collaborative study using Noninvasive Electro-
cardiographic Imaging (ECGI) in patients with Brugada syndrome, investigating the relationship between electrical
parameters attained with ECGI and myocardial fibrosis seen on MRI in these patients.

Michele Orini, Ph.D. is the Marie-Curie Research Fellow at the Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College
London, United Kingdom. He has an extensive experience in signal processing. He is studying the electrical activity of
the human heart by placing a multi-electrode sock over the heart of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Specifically,
he investigates electrical alternans and the effect of stretch.

Neil Srinivasan, M.B., Ch.B. is a Cardiology Electrophysiology Fellow with an interest in inherited cardiac arrhythmias
and VT/VF. He performs catheterization laboratory based research, using catheter mapping to investigate electrical
heterogeneity within the heart. He is currently taking time out to complete a Ph.D. before finishing his clinical training.

Recently, they were seen in the Rudy Lab and Dr. Srinivasan was able to let us know a bit about his background:

How long have you been in your current position?

Three years

Can you give us an overview of what it is you do in your research and clinical work?

I am a cardiology fellow, with an interest in inherited arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmias.
My primary research interest is electrical heterogeneity within the heart in health and disease, and how this inter-
plays to cause arrhythmia. My research consists of invasive cardiac mapping in healthy and diseased ventricles and
its relation to surface ECG markers of risk.

While growing up, what kind of upbringing and experiences that may have inspired your career choice?

Wanted to be a professional soccer player rather than a cardiologist!!!

What is your training experience?

I have worked as a doctor since 2006, and have been doing a Ph.D. since 2013 while continuing to train clinically.
I started medical school in 2000 and qualified as a doctor in 2006. I have worked in all aspects of general medicine
for the last ten years, and have specialized in cardiology since 2010. During medical school I also did a BSc in one
year that largely revolved around the study of cellular electrophysiology. With Professor Arun Holden, I worked with
the Luo Rudy cellular computational model, investigating the effects of electrical heterogeneity in LQT2 and the
effects of drugs such as Sotolol and Amiodarone on the ventricular wall. This inspired me to pursue a career in
cardiac electrophysiology after medical school.

How did you come about being part of Professor Pier Lambiase’s laboratory?

After three years as a cardiology Fellow, I moved to Professor Pier Lambiase’s team in London, to study the electrical
heterogeneity of the heart in health and disease and its relation to surface ECG markers of risk in our patients with
32 | CBAC Center Heartbeat