Senior scientist Espen W. Remme, MSc, PhD is the leader of the group Integrated Cardiovascular Function. The group is located at Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. The main objective is to study mechanisms of cardiovascular function and disease through experimental and clinical studies.

General objectives

The Integrated Cardiovascular Function Group studies cardiac mechanics in experimental models and in patients. The general objective is to gain new insights into mechanisms of cardiovascular disease and to develop new imaging modalities which quantify disease processes and cardiac function. The idea is to develop better diagnostic understanding and solutions and to translate these into improved clinical practice.
The research group is a part of Institute for Surgical Research and the Department of Cardiology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital.

Specific objectives

• Develop better methods for selecting patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and improve methods for evaluating acute effects of CRT
• Investigate mechanisms of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and to develop better diagnostic methods of diastolic heart failure
• Investigate how blood speckle tracking can improve clinical evaluation of cardiac function
• Further develop the non-invasive myocardial work and pressure-volume methods and investigate how it may be used to improve evaluation of cardiac function