Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel, is proud to announce that a prestigious European Commission grant has been awarded to a Rambam clinician-researcher, Professor Lior Gepstein, to fight the most common cardiac arrhythmia – atrial fibrillation.
Professor Lior Gepstein. Photography: Rambam HCC.
Professor Lior Gepstein, the director of the Department of Cardiology and the Division of Research at Rambam and the Edna and Jonathan Sohnis Chair in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine at the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion), is one of twelve Israeli researchers to receive the European Research Council’s (ERC) “Proof of Concept” grant. This prestigious €150,000 grant supports the translation of academic research into practical applications and commercial ventures, including the creation of startups. Notably, this grant funding is only awarded to researchers who have received previous funding from the ERC.
Professor Gepstein’s research proposal is a groundbreaking approach to chemogenetics—a method that utilizes synthetic molecules and inert drugs to modulate the electrical properties of specific target cells for patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib). The most common cardiac rhythm disorder, Afib increases morbidity and mortality among patients and places a heavy burden on healthcare systems. Traditional treatments, such as drug therapy, ablation, and pacemaker implantation, have limited efficacy and can lead to various complications. Professor Gepstein’s research aims to use artificial molecules and inert drugs to modify a cell’s electrical properties, targeting specific receptors to prevent atrial remodeling—structural changes to the heart caused by the disorder.
This achievement highlights Rambam’s commitment to fostering clinician-researchers, who play a crucial role in connecting cutting-edge research with patient care. Ensuring that clinical insights directly inform research priorities, Rambam’s clinician-researchers drive innovations that address real-world medical challenges.
Based on a Hebrew language article that first appeared on Ynet.
