‘Top Ten’ List of Cardiology Muscle Papers Includes UMBI Researcher

BALTIMORE, MD – Physiology News Winter 2004 issue ranked UMBI professor and director of its Medical Biotechnology Center, Dr. W. Jonathan Lederer’s and his 1993 Science paper* on the discovery of calcium sparks as one of the top ten papers in cardiac muscle research. Calcium sparks are the elementary units of calcium release in heart muscle. It is the release of calcium that initiates the contraction of heart cells. Thus, sparks are at the very foundation of heart function. Dr. Lederer rounded out the top ten list that started with the original 1883 account from Sydney Ringer describing the now ubiquitous Ringer’s Solution.

Physiology News, one of the UK’s Physiology Society’s publications, noted that this was the first installment of what is to be a series of lists ranking scientific research. Dr. David Miller from the University of Glasgow cited Dr. Lederer’s work in his article highlighting his top ten picks for cardiac muscle research. With over 640 citations at the time Dr. Miller’s article was written, Dr. Lederer’s paper was one of the top three most cited and the newest paper on the list.

Dr. Lederer was quite astounded at the inclusion of his ground-breaking work on the list. “I am quite honored to be included in such illustrious company,” said Dr. Lederer.

Besides his laboratory’s work on calcium sparks, Dr. Lederer is also known for his discovery of a new cause of heart failure (UMBI Press Release, February 6, 2003: “Scientists Solve Chaotic Heartbeat Mystery”). He travels extensively and has organized several international meetings on calcium signaling in the heart.

“We are very proud of Dr. Lederer and his internationally acclaimed work,” said Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera. “He, like many of the UMBI faculty, are recognized around the world as leaders in their field. We congratulate Dr. Lederer, and look forward to many more important cutting edge discoveries from his laboratory at the Medical Biotechnology Center.
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* Cheng, H., Lederer, W.J. & Cannell, M.B. (1993) Calcium sparks: elementary events underlying excitation-contraction coupling in heart muscle. Science 262, 740-744.

**Miller, D. (2004) A (highly personal) ‘Top Ten’ of cardiac muscle papers. Physiology News, Winter 2004, Number 57, pp. 9-11.

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Celebrating our 20th anniversary year, UMBI is the first and only biotechnology research institute within the University System of Maryland and was established in 1985. The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) consists of five major research and education centers and is dedicated to advancing the frontiers of biotechnology. UMBI’s centers of research include: CARB, the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology located in Rockville; CBR, the Center for Biosystems Research located in College Park; and COMB, the Center of Marine Biotechnology, MBC, the Medical Biotechnology Center, and IHV, the Institute of Human Virology, all located in Baltimore. For more information, visit www.umbi.umd.edu