Torsten Christ

PD Dr. med. Torsten Christ is a researcher at the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), specializing in cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular pharmacology. His work leverages human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) and engineered heart tissue to model atrial fibrillation, study ion channel dynamics, and evaluate novel drug targets.

Research interests focus on:

• Mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis in atrial fibrillation
• Development of hiPSC-CM as pharmacological models
• Optogenetic and biochemical modulation of cardiac tissue
• Valvular cardiomyopathy and metabolic influences on heart function
• Translational applications for antiarrhythmic therapies

Recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate strong emphasis on: hiPSC-CM electrophysiology, engineered heart tissue platforms, molecular pathways in atrial fibrillation (e.g., PDE8, PITX2), and metabolomic drivers of arrhythmias. Studies frequently employ patch-clamp techniques, proteomics, and genetic manipulation to dissect cardiac pathologies.