The Computational Cardiac Modeling group (head: Axel Loewe) aims at formulating the heart's function mathematically and realistically representing it with computational models. Our research is focused on the electrophysiology and mechanics of the heart, which we represent with multiscale models. These models include several biological levels of integration from ion channels via cells to tissues and organs and the relevant phenomena span a multitude of temporal and spatial scales (microseconds to minutes; micrometers to centimeters).

The Computational Cardiac Modeling group is committed to method development and the application of computational models to answer questions of clinical relevance. Towards this aim, we pursue two approaches: On the one hand, we investigate fundamental physiological and pathological mechanisms with computational models complementary to classical approaches like cell or animal experiments. The mechanisms and relations regarding disease development, diagnosis, and therapy identified in this way can be applied to the patient's individual situation by physicians. On the other hand, we use personalized models representing an individual patient to support clinical decision making. To personalize models based on measured data of the individual patient, we collaborate closely with the Bioelectric Signals Group.

The research in our group happens at the crossroads of engineering, computer science, natural sciences, and medicine. To develop methods and conduct simulation studies, we employ methods of software engineering, algorithmics, numerics, signal processing, data analysis, and statistics.