Michael Fill

Michael Fill, PhD, is the Francis N. and Catherine O. Bard Professor of Physiology and Chairperson of the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center. He holds an endowed chair position and leads internationally recognized research on ryanodine receptor (RyR) calcium release channels in excitable cells. His laboratory investigates fundamental mechanisms of calcium signaling with clinical applications for arrhythmias, neurodegenerative diseases, and therapeutic development.

Dr. Fill received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on RyR channel function in health and disease, including structure-function relationships, regulatory proteins, post-translational modifications, and pharmacological targeting of hyperactive RyR signaling in pathological conditions.

Analysis of Dr. Fill's recent publications reveals consistent focus on cardiac and neuronal calcium signaling mechanisms, with emphasis on: (1) RyR channel gating kinetics and regulation, (2) Calcium-mediated arrhythmogenesis in genetic and acquired disorders, (3) Cross-disciplinary approaches integrating molecular biophysics, computational modeling, and translational applications, (4) Novel therapeutic strategies targeting calcium dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease and cardiac conditions.

Significant scientific honors include:

• The Francis & Catherine Bard Endowed Chair of Physiology (2015)
• Chair of NIH MOSS-V02 Study Section (2016)
• NIH Director's Early Independence Award Panel member (2014)
• Journal of General Physiology Editorial Board (2009)
• NIH Study Section reviewer (2008, 2014)

Dr. Fill directs an active research laboratory (Laboratory Link) investigating RyR channel function using single-channel electrophysiology, fluorescence imaging, and computational approaches. The lab collaborates extensively with cardiac electrophysiologists, structural biologists, and computational modelers to advance understanding of calcium signaling paradigms.