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