Biography
Dr Alex Lewalle completed his PhD in physics at Cambridge, and subsequently refocussed his research toward the physics/biology interface. His general research interest is in the mechanisms of force generation in biological systems, from the molecular to the whole-organ scale, and their role in physiological function. His earlier research, combining experimental and modelling approaches, has included measurements of the myosin motor protein that produces muscle contraction, and of red-blood-cell membrane deformation. He has also modelled the dynamics of actin filament growth, the mechanical driving force in cell motility. His present work focuses on biophysical modelling and computational simulations to better understand the roles played by electrophysiological activity and cardiac tissue structure in the cardiac system and in heart failure.