STEPHENVILLE, Texas — A $464,502 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been awarded to Tarleton State University Mathematics Professor Dr. Bryant Wyatt to study the underlying causes of atrial fibrillation (AF).
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death worldwide. Irregular heart rhythms, called atrial arrhythmias, often lead to stroke, heart failure and sometimes heart attacks. The most common type — atrial fibrillation — increases a person’s risk of stroke by about five times.
“That’s why it’s so important to focus on preventing atrial arrhythmias, especially AF, as part of the effort to build healthier lives and reduce heart disease and stroke,” said Dr. Wyatt. “We are excited to start our collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston to make an impact in eliminating atrial arrhythmias. We are indebted to the Division of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, and especially Grant Administrator Maria Ross, for helping push the grant through.”
Dr. Wyatt presented his proposed study at the recent HRX AbstracX conference as a top five AbstracX semifinalist. He explained why advanced mathematical models can better facilitate the study of chaos introduced by AF.
“The left atrium (LA) is the most complex of the heart’s four chambers, and it is where most irregular heart rhythms begin. If AF is truly chaotic, it can’t be studied with simple formulas — it must be explored using advanced computer models and simulations,” he said.
He added that the current digital model of the LA can mimic many standard arrhythmias, but it isn’t detailed enough to uncover what actually drives AF.
“Since true chaos only appears in complex systems, this project’s main goal is to add that missing complexity to the model in order to better understand the mechanisms behind AF.”
Dr. Rupa Iyer, Tarleton State’s Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, said the new funding from NIH is a testament to the groundbreaking work by Dr. Wyatt and his team.
“I am proud of our RIED team who have worked tirelessly to support our faculty in pursuit of extramural funding while reducing administrative burden that comes with the submission of NIH proposals,” she said.A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of over 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For over 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.