Please join me in congratulating Associate Professor Johanna Montgomery on her award of the Royal Society James Cook Fellowship. This is a prestigious award.
Johanna Montgomery, Department of Physiology, will explore the underlying function of nerve cells called ‘ganglionated plexi’ clustered on the heart. These nerve cells act as ‘little brains’ controlling the rhythm of the heart. They play a key role in atrial fibrillation, a condition of the heart that causes an irregular and often rapid heart rate, and is linked to an increased risk for stroke, heart failure and dementia. Getting to the root cause of how these nerve cells control heart rhythm, and if they can alter their signals under different conditions, is vitally important.
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