There is a need to translate these new insights of genetic, molecular, cellular, and tissue arrhythmia mechanisms into the development of novel, safe, and new therapeutic interventions for the treatment and prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.

There is a need to recognize and study the interdependencies between the brain/peripheral nervous system and the heart/vascular systems in health and disease to develop interventions to detect, treat, and prevent cardiovascular disease.

We need to improve the understanding of the molecular and physiological bases of paracrine signaling of heart, and use the knowledge gained to develop improved, effective approaches to diagnose, treat, and prevent cardiac disorders.

Conduct proof-of-concept studies and explore whether strategies to reverse or prevent fibrosis are feasible.

Understanding the complexity of NANC transmitter release and neuropeptide function could be helpful in establishing new, effective therapeutic strategies for treating heart disease.

There is a need to identify and to develop pharmaceutical interventions for patients at risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD).

What are the effects of implanted defibrillators (ICDs) in patients with diseased, remodeled hearts?

Do ICDs influence future arrhythmia risk? Can devices be better designed to mitigate their possible deleterious effects?

There is a need to create opportunities to explore clinically relevant basic and clinical research related to myocardial effects of thyroid hormone excess and deficiency, especially as it is related to atrial fibrillation.

Does fish oil supplement intervention truly reduce arrhythmia burden in the general population?

Critical Challenge