For Non-Scientists

During foetal life the heart changes from a tube-like organ to a 4-chambered structure that has two parallel pumps, one sending blood to the lungs, and the other to the body. These changes are controlled by genetic programs. We are studying how defects in these genetic programs result in abnormal heart development. The genes controlling heart development are important not only in congenital heart disease, which affects 4600 babies and children every year, and is the commonest birth defect, but also in maintaining normal heart function in adults.