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SUMMARY:Computational models of the heart: Why they are useful\, and how t
 hey would benefit from UQ - Richard Clayton (University of Sheffield)
DTSTART:20180111T160000Z
DTEND:20180111T170000Z
UID:TALK97525@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:INI IT
DESCRIPTION:Normal and regular beating of the human heart is essential to 
 maintain life. In each beat\, as wave of electrical excitation arises in t
 he heart&#39\;s natural pacemaker\, and spreads throughout the rest of the
  heart. This wave acts as a signal to initialise and synchronise mechanica
 l contraction of the heart tissue\, which in turn generates pressure in th
 e chambers of the heart and acts to propel blood around the body. Models h
 ave been developed for the electrical and mechanical behaviour of the hear
 t\, as well for blood flow. In this talk I will concentrate on models of e
 lectrical activation because failures in the initiation and normal propaga
 tion of electrical activation can result in a disruption of normal mechani
 cal behaviour\, and underlie a range of common heart problems. Models of e
 lectrical activation in both single cells and in tissue are stiff\, nonlin
 ear\, and have a large number of parameters. Until recently there has been
  little interest in how uncertainty in model parameters and other inputs i
 nfluences model behaviour. However\, the prospect of using these models fo
 r critical applications including drug safety testing and guiding interven
 tions in patients has begun to stimulate activity in this area.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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