Professor Helge Rasmussen’s laboratory is focusing on one of the most important proteins in a heart cell – the sodium pump. The research could lead to innovative therapies for heart failure, hypertension and other conditions.

Helge Rasmussen: 'We'll be seeing more and more patients presenting with heart failure. We urgently need to find ways to better treat it.'

What is heart failure?

Heart failure is a chronic, disabling condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood through the body. It can be genetic, or the result of a heart attack or other cardiac event. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue and swollen ankles. Risk factors include obesity and type 2 diabetes – conditions that are increasing. Learn more

Role of the sodium pump

For healthy functioning, heart cells need low levels of sodium inside, and high levels of potassium outside. Normal heart cells are able to pump sodium out – via the sodium pump, which is in the membrane of a heart cell.

In heart failure, the action of the sodium pump is impaired. The result is that the heart cells have abnormally high levels of sodium. The heart's ability to contract is weakened, and there is an increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias.

How the sodium pump works (animation)

Sodium pump research at Royal North Shore Hospital

The internationally recognised North Shore Heart Research Group was established by Helge Rasmussen in 1988, on his return from a fellowship at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

His current team consists of Dr Gemma Figtree, Dr Karin Chia, Alvaro Garcia, Elisha Hamilton, Chia-chi Liu and Keyvan Karimi.

Their focus is on:

• understanding the mechanisms that prevent the pump from working
• reversing this impairment with novel treatments that may help improve quality of life and survival rates in heart failure patients.