Experimental Cardiology Area

Pediatric Cardiomyopathies

Prof. Giovanni Di Salvo

Principal Investigator

Research Activity

The experimental cardiology laboratory studies pediatric cardiomyopathies, congenital heart diseases, and pediatric heart failure. Pediatric heart failure is the most lethal pediatric disease. The research spans from cellular evaluation to the study of cardiac mechanics and the impact of new therapies on cardiac function.
The project is carried out in collaboration with Dr. Nina Kaludercic from the Neuroscience Institute of the CNR in Padua. Dr. Kaludercic’s is a basic research scientist and her research is focused on mitochondria, redox signaling and autophagy in relation to cardiovascular diseases. Her expertise with in vivo models of cardiac dysfunction and in vitro models (i.e. iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes) will be essential for the successful outcome of this project. The PI and Dr. Kaludercic actively collaborate and interact together in relation to the research proposed.
The employed personnel are from both University of Padua and the Azienda Ospedale Università Padova, as well as personnel paid on IRP grants.

Team Members

Prof. Giovanni Di Salvo – Principal Investigator
Prof. Jolanda Sabatino – Associate Professor
Prof. Biagio Castaldi – MD, Clinical Scientist
Dr. Irene Cattapan – Research Fellow
Prof. Nina Kaludercic – Full Professor
Dr. Ruth Jepchirchir Arusei – PhD Student

Selected Publications

• Kaludercic N, Arusei RJ, Di Lisa F. Recent advances on the role of monoamine oxidases in cardiac pathophysiology. Basic Res Cardiol. 2023 Oct 4;118(1):41. doi: 10.1007/s00395-023-01012-2. PMID: 37792081; PMCID: PMC10550854.
• Di Sante M, Antonucci S, Pontarollo L, Cappellaro I, Segat F, Deshwal S, Greotti E, Grilo LF, Menabà² R, Di Lisa F, Kaludercic N. Monoamine oxidase A-dependent ROS formation modulates human cardiomyocyte differentiation through AKT and WNT activation. Basic Res Cardiol. 2023 Jan 20;118(1):4. doi: 10.1007/s00395-023-00977-4. PMID: 36670288; PMCID: PMC9859871.
• Sabatino J, Budts W, Di Salvo G. Charting new frontiers in pediatric cardiomyopathies: lessons from the ESC EORP Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis Registry in pediatric age. Eur Heart J. 2024 Apr 21;45(16):1455-1457. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae143. PMID: 38592468.
• Castaldi B, Cuppini E, Fumanelli J, Di Candia A, Sabatino J, Sirico D, Vida V, Padalino M, Di Salvo G. Chronic Heart Failure in Children: State of the Art and New Perspectives. J Clin Med. 2023 Mar 30;12(7):2611. doi: 10.3390/jcm12072611. PMID: 37048694; PMCID: PMC10095364.
• Dedja A, Cattapan C, Di Salvo G, Avesani M, Sabatino J, Guariento A, Vida V. A Rodent Model of The Ross Operation: Syngeneic Pulmonary Artery Graft Implantation in A Systemic Position. J Vis Exp. 2022 Apr 1;(182). doi: 10.3791/63179. PMID: 35435912.