J. Mailen Kootsey, PhD

My research theme is understanding complex biomedical systems using mathematical modeling and computer simulation. My personal application of these techniques has been in cardiac electrophysiology: understanding the basic physical and chemical mechanisms that underlie the generation and propagation of the action potential in cardiac tissue. I have also put significant effort into developing general-purpose simulation software for research and teaching, distributing this software to users, and using this software to teach the use of simulation techniques.

My colleagues and I have studied basic mechanisms of ion transport in cardiac cell membranes. We developed mechanistic models of sodium-calcium exchange and the sodium-potassium pump, for example, being the first to recognize the contribution of the pump to the generation of the cardiac action potential. We also showed how mathematical models are important for the design of voltage clamp experiments on cardiac cells.

At the tissue level, my colleagues and I have studied the mechanism of slow propagation in the AV node and propagation in the wall of the ventricles. Through experiments and modeling, we worked to understand how the electrical excitation moves through a complex anisotropic structure of cardiac cells and electrical couplings.

Recently, I have concentrated on general software techniques for building interactive computer simulations. My colleagues and I have developed a new patent-pending software architecture for rapid construction of interactive simulations in web pages with applications in teaching from kindergarten through professional education in research and in business and manufacturing. I am now working to develop new educational and commercial applications of this technology.