For many years, our research group has been interested in ion channels and human diseases caused by the dysfunction of ion channels, channelopathies.

We are part of the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

One of the principal objectives of our work is to elucidate novel molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias causing sudden cardiac death. To this end, on the one hand, our group investigates ion channel mutations found in patients and families presenting with genetic forms of lethal arrhythmias such as the congenital long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, or cardiac conduction disturbances. Since a few years, we also been investigating new genetic variants in the gene CFTR that are found in cystic fibrosis patients from diverse African populations.

On the other hand, we are studying new types of regulation of cardiac ion channels relevant to arrhythmogenic mechanisms. Our group is currently investigating the regulation of the cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5 and its modulation by interacting proteins (funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation). Another focus is the TRP channel TRPM4 that is mutated in patients with cardiac conduction disorders. We are investigating the consequences of these mutations, as well as developing new small molecule modulators of TRPM4. 

Please have a look at our recently published original articles!

Our group co-organized with Prof. Angelika Lampert (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) three series of online seminars entitled “Worldwide Sodium Channel Seminars”. In parallel to these online seminars we also organized on-site conferences in Grindelwald, Switzerland in 2024 and in 2026. A third edition of the Sodium Channels “Grindelwald conference” will be held in January 2028.