Tucson Myofilament Meeting, May 23-26

The Tucson Myofilament Meeting is an international 3.5-day Sarver Heart Center conference that brings together approximately 250 scientists focused on the structure and function of the myofilaments that comprise the contractile machinery of muscle. Spanning topics from molecular biophysics to heart and skeletal muscle disease mechanisms and drug development, the meeting is known for its highly interactive, collaborative, and informal atmosphere, with strong engagement of early career investigators.

Traditionally held biennially at the University of Wisconsin, the meeting will continue at the University of Arizona beginning in May 2026, offering a distinctive Tucson setting that fosters scientific exchange and community building.

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Shanna Hamilton, PhD

Assistant Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
  • BSc Biochemistry, Swansea University, 2012
  • PhD Medicine/Biophysics, Cardiff University, 2018
  • Postdoctoral Training in Cardiovascular Physiology, Brown University, 2018-2019
  • Postdoctoral Training in Cardiovascular Physiology, The Ohio State University, 2019-2023

Research Interests: 

Abnormal calcium handling in the heart is implicated in many cardiovascular diseases and contributes to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The overarching goal of our laboratory is to decipher molecular mechanisms regulating calcium handling in the healthy and diseased heart. This will uncover new therapeutic approaches that we can test to prevent these arrhythmias and treat heart disease.
   
We integrate a combination of confocal microscopy, electrophysiology, ex vivo whole heart optical mapping and gene editing approaches to study these mechanisms in multiple rodent models of cardiac diseases, from molecule-cell-organ-organism. This includes models of inherited heart disease (catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; CPVT) and models of acquired heart disease (myocardial infarct, hypertrophy and heart failure, aging, diabetes, atrial arrhythmia).

Molecular Medicine Grad Program: 
Yes

Primary College, Department: 
College of Medicine
Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine