A major interest of our lab is to investigate the cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of disease progression in heart failure. We have also had a longstanding interest in Ca2+ cycling at the level of sarcoplasmic reticulum and its role in cardiac disease. For these experiments, we apply conventional biochemical and molecular biology assays, digital confocal imaging, and mass spectrometry based proteomic studies. Model systems include: tissue explants, established cell lines, primary cell cultures and transgenic animals. These techniques serve as valuable experimental tools to investigate heart disease pathways, cellular protein sorting and Ca2+ cycling.