Clinical Research

The heart beats by regular electrical impulses produced by the sinus node in the right atrium. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia in which the electrical excitation of the myocardium within the atria is disordered. It is an extremely important disease in cardiovascular clinical settings. The pathogenesis of AF remains to be elucidated, requiring approaches from all fields including anatomy, pathology, imaging, atrial function, electrophysiology, biomarkers, and genomics. We are collaborating with internal and external departments to elucidate the pathophysiology involved in the developmet and maintenance of AF. In the clinical area, we are using the latest imaging tools and high-density mapping systems to optimize ablation therapy for refractory AF, including high-risk patients with cardiomyopathy and congenital heart disease.
Our team values a friendly atmosphere. If you are interested in working with us, please contact our department.

The image of the CIED (manufactured by Medtronic Japan Co., Ltd.) was provided by TOA EIYO.

Remote monitoring has enabled early detection of arrhythmic events that can be captured by implantable cardiac electrical devices (CIEDs). However, the diagnosis of CIEDs is still inadequate, and analysis of the intracardiac electrocardiogram by a medical professional is essential to accurately diagnose arrhythmic events, noise events, and other factors. However, the number of arrhythmic events transmitted by remote monitoring is so large that it is burdensome for a medical professional to analyze all of them. If intracardiac electrocardiograms can be accurately analyzed by AI, it is expected to reduce the burden on medical personnel and increase diagnostic capability. AI has been shown to be able to identify noise events. We are also examining whether AI can identify arrhythmia diagnosis.

We actively perform PCI for patients with complex coronary artery lesions and complicated background diseases. In particular, we evaluate lesion morphology and plaque characteristics based on cardiac CT and develop a strategy for safe PCI in advance.
In addition, we are building a registry of PCI cases in collaboration with affiliated hospitals in the Chugoku and Shikoku areas. We are conducting surveys and research from a wide range of perspectives to determine which patients can benefit more from cardiac CT and PCI.

We conduct a novel challenge of echocardiography to evaluate cardiac function in various heart diseases, using 3D echo, speckle-tracking echo, multi-modality images, and machine learning.

We perform clinical research in various fields to generate new knowledge and publish original article in major international journals.

Research on cardiomyopathy is conducted using recent modalities, such as pathophysiological and therapeutic exploration research using molecular cell biology methods, including disease model research using genetic information and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), AI-based research for diagnosis and prediction of arrhythmias, and epidemiological research on refractory cardiomyopathy.
We are conducting a wide range of research based on a wealth of case studies.

At Okayama University Hospital, more than 2,000 ACHD patients are being treated. A notable feature of our hospital is the high number of patients with complex congenital heart diseases, including those who have undergone the Fontan procedure, as well as those with tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, Ebstein anomaly, and others.
In terms of research, we are investigating the long-term prognosis of these complex congenital heart diseases, exploring prognostic factors, and developing prognostic prediction models. Additionally, using multi-modality imaging techniques including echocardiography, MRI, CT, and cardiac catheterization, we are evaluating the pathophysiology, anatomy, and hemodynamics of complex congenital heart diseases. Our research aims to contribute promptly to clinical practice.

In recent years, there has been a significant advancement in clinical research methodologies, enabling the validation of the effectiveness of drugs and treatment methods that were previously challenging to assess through observational studies. Collaboration with statistical experts is crucial for conducting such research. However, knowledges and skills in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics are also important for every investigator.

In our lab, clinical experts in each cardiovascular field collaborate with others with statistical skills to conduct clinical research using registry data and real-world data or prospective clinical trials. If you are interested in learning such skills to conduct clinical research, let’s join our team!

Recent innovations in gene sequencing technology, including the development of next-generation sequencers, have enabled comprehensive genetic analysis. However, for many cardiovascular diseases where genetic factors are implicated, the causative genes have yet to be identified. While genomic medicine has already revolutionized cancer treatment, cardiovascular treatment is currently undergoing significant changes due to advancements in this field.

By collaborating with multiple research institutes, we are working to elucidate the causes of cardiovascular diseases through comprehensive genetic analysis and its clinical applications. If you are interested in contributing to cardiovascular genome research that will shape the future, please get in touch with our laboratory.