Vadim Fedorov, PhD, and John Hummel, MD, have collaborated for over a decade to advance the understanding and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to a March 9 announcement. Their research at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Wexner Medical Center has led to the identification of previously unknown sources that sustain AFib in human hearts.
Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia that can lead to serious complications such as blood clots, stroke, and heart failure if left untreated. The work by Fedorov and Hummel matters because it provides new insights into how AFib persists in patients who do not respond to standard treatments. This could improve outcomes for millions affected by the condition.
Fedorov’s laboratory developed a novel human heart model using donated hearts from transplant patients or through Lifeline of Ohio. By perfusing these hearts with an oxygenated solution, his team was able to keep them beating outside the body for up to 12 hours. Using advanced imaging techniques involving fluorescent dye and infrared cameras, they mapped electrical activity across the heart in unprecedented detail—recording up to 40,000 data points compared to the typical 200 in clinical settings.
This technology allowed Fedorov’s team to confirm the existence of re-entrant drivers—small sites outside the pulmonary veins responsible for sustaining AFib—in human hearts. "Essentially, this imaging allows us to see how electricity spreads across the structure of the human heart in 3D," Fedorov said. "It confirmed the presence of something we were already seeing in animal models: re-entrant drivers in the atria. These are small sites outside the pulmonary veins where we can observe the abnormally fast electrical activity that sustains AFib." Their findings were published in the European Heart Journal in 2015.
Hummel described their partnership as unique within translational research: "Everyone likes to talk about translational research, but it’s rare to find such a straight line of connection between two labs," he said. "It’s been an exciting partnership that relies on the strength of a much larger team than the two of us." Their work has also been recognized internationally by leading experts at major conferences.
Ohio State Health and Discovery addresses societal issues such as health equity and substance use while promoting inclusive well-being according to its official website. The organization includes hospitals and outpatient facilities as part of its academic medical center according to its official website, focusing on health care, research, education, and community involvement according to its official website. It offers resources on wellness, research advances, and community health initiatives according to its official website.
The broader impact of this research may extend beyond Ohio as Ohio State Health and Discovery seeks advancements that benefit both local communities and populations worldwide according to its official website.
