Lik-Chuan Lee, PhD, Michigan State University 

Abstract:  The heart is a complex organ whose primary function is to pump blood around the body, including itself through the coronary network. To pump blood in the body efficiently, multiple processes and physics occurring across multiple spatial and temporal scales in the heart operate in a highly coordinated fashion. Heart failure and diseases often develop when this coordination is lost and/or any of the processes malfunction. While clinical data and animal experiments can help produce insights into the mechanisms of heart diseases and treatments, it is often difficult to isolate confounding factors using these tools. Computer modeling can address these limitations by isolating the effects of different pathological features on heart function and predict quantities that are difficult, if not impossible, to measure. Here, I will present our lab’s efforts in the development of multiscale and multiphysics computer models to elucidate the mechanisms of different heart diseases and heart failure treatments. Specifically, I will focus on the application of computer modeling to elucidate left ventricular assist devices, coronary venous retroperfusion and cardiac ablation.  I will also discuss how computer modeling can be used to improve patient outcomes in these treatments.