Zhilin Qu, PhD

Zhilin Qu, PhD
Email: zqu@mednet.ucla.edu

Biophysics · Arrhythmias · Computer modeling

My group uses computer modeling and simulations to investigate the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias and other physiological and pathophysiological phenomena. In modeling of cardiac arrhythmias, we use models of stochastic Markovian transitions of ion channels, and ordinary and partial differential equations to simulate subcellular, cellular, tissue and whole-heart calcium and voltage dynamics that are associated with arrhythmias. We collaborate with experimentalists to test our theories and to reveal the underlying mechanisms of experimental observations. Our general goal is to use multi-scale computer modeling and simulations combined with theories of nonlinear dynamics and complex systems to understand the mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets for treating human diseases.

Publications

Qu, A. Garfinkel, P.-S. Chen, and J. N. Weiss. Mechanisms of discordant alternans and induction of reentry in a simulated cardiac tissue. Circulation 102, 1664-1670 (2000).
Yang, R. MacLellan, Z. Han, J. N. Weiss, and Z. Qu. Multi-site phosphorylation and network dynamics of cyclin-dependent kinase signaling in the eukaryotic cell cycle. Biophys. J. 86, 3432-3443 (2004).
Sato, L.-H. Xie, A. Sovari, D. X. Tran, N. Morita, F. Xie, H. Karagueuzian, A. Garfinkel, J. N. Weiss, and Z. Qu. Synchronization of chaotic early afterdepolarizations in the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias. PNAS 106, 2983-2988 (2009).
Nivala, C. Y. Ko, M. Nivala, J. N. Weiss, Z. Qu. Criticality in intracellular calcium signaling in cardiac myocytes. Biophys. J. 102, 2433-2442 (2012).
Song, M. B. Liu, Z. Qu. Transverse tubular network structures in the genesis of intracellular calcium alternans and triggered activity in cardiac cells. J. Mol. Cell Cardiol. 114, 288-299 (2018).
B. Liu, N. Vandersickel, A. V. Panfilov, Z. Qu. “R-from-T” as a common mechanism of arrhythmia initiation in long QT syndromes. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 12, e007571 (2019).