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David S. Auerbach, Ph.D.

David S. Auerbach, Ph.D.

Contact

Office (585) 276-3018
Fax (585) 276-1530

About Me

Professional Background

Dr. Auerbach biomedical research training began during his undergraduate studies at Skidmore College, where he majored in Human Physiology, with a minor in Law & Society. He continued his training, and earned a MS from the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at Case Western Reserve University. Nex...
Dr. Auerbach biomedical research training began during his undergraduate studies at Skidmore College, where he majored in Human Physiology, with a minor in Law & Society. He continued his training, and earned a MS from the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at Case Western Reserve University. Next, he conducted his doctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr. Jose Jalife, a pioneer in cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms, at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He provided key insights into the substrates (structural heterogeneities) and triggers (alterations in ion channel expression and function) for the initiation of lethal cardiac arrhythmias. Subsequently, he completed a 3 year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan under the mentorship of Dr. Lori Isom, an expert in genetic sodium channel diseases. Dr. Auerbach demonstrated that in severe genetic forms of epilepsy, there are not only alterations in electrical function in the brain, but also in the heart, resulting in both seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. In 2014 Dr. Auerbach joined URMC and began to develop an independent line of research that employs a multisystem approach to studying ion channel diseases of the brain and heart.

Faculty Appointments

Adjunct Assistant Professor - Department of Medicine (SMD)

Credentials

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

University of Rochester, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute (Mentors: Arthur J Moss, MD and Robert T Dirksen, PhD) 2014 - 2015

University of Michigan, Department of Pharmacology (Mentor Lori L Isom, PhD) 2011 - 2013

Education

PhD | SUNY Upstate Medical University (Mentor: Jose Jalife, MD). Pharmacology. 2011

MS | Case Western Reserve University. Physiology & Biophysics. 2004

BA | Skidmore College. Physiology. 2002

Awards

Top Abstract. 2017

Clinical Science Young Investigator Award. 2015

Fellow. 2014

1st Place, Research Poster Competition. 2014

Young Investigator Travel Award. 2013

Young Investigator Award in Cardiac Channelopathies. 2013

2nd Place, Research Poster Presentation Competition. 2013

Research Poster Presentation Award Recipient. 2012

Research Poster Award Recipient. 2011

Gordon K. Moe Young Investigator Award Recipient. 2009

Basic Cardiovascular Science Abstract Travel Award Recipient. 2006

Research

Patients with genetic ion channel diseases develop electrical disturbances in the brain (seizures) and heart (arrhythmias) that can lead to sudden death. Our lab takes a multi-system approach to explore the effects of genetic ion channel diseases on neuro-cardiac electrical function. For example, we...
Patients with genetic ion channel diseases develop electrical disturbances in the brain (seizures) and heart (arrhythmias) that can lead to sudden death. Our lab takes a multi-system approach to explore the effects of genetic ion channel diseases on neuro-cardiac electrical function. For example, we perform patient database analyses to examine the co-prevalence and risk of seizures and arrhythmias. Then using cellular and animal models of the disease we perform molecular/biochemical and electrophysiological approaches to understand the underlying mechanisms for these neuro-cardiac pathologies. Ultimately, these results are validated using patient databases, and thus complete the full bedside-to-bench-to-bedside paradigm.

Millions of Americans have epilepsy and they are at a high risk of sudden death (e.g., Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, SUDEP.) Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. An algorithm that integrates biomarkers for each of the proposed mechanisms for SUDEP will revolutionize our ability to predict and prevent SUDEP. As cardiac events are one mechanism for SUDEP, we are investigating whether the patient's cardiac ECG provides clues into the risk of SUDEP. Also, we are testing whether cardiac ECG measures provide a novel outpatient method to distinguish the type of seizures.

Publications

Journal Articles

Risk of Cardiac Events Associated With Antidepressant Therapy in Patients With Long QT Syndrome.

Wang M, Szepietowska B, Polonsky B, McNitt S, Moss AJ, Zareba W, Auerbach DS

The American journal of cardiology.. 2018 January 15121 (2):182-187. Epub 11/13/2017.

Risk of cardiac events in Long QT syndrome patients when taking antiseizure medications.

Auerbach DS, Biton Y, Polonsky B, McNitt S, Gross RA, Dirksen RT, Moss AJ

Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine.. 2018 January 191 :81-92.e7. Epub 10/20/2017.

Scn2b Deletion in Mice Results in Ventricular and Atrial Arrhythmias.

Bao Y, Willis BC, Frasier CR, Lopez-Santiago LF, Lin X, Ramos-Mondragón R, Auerbach DS, Chen C, Wang Z, Anumonwo J, Valdivia HH, Delmar M, Jalife J, Isom LL

Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology.. 2016 December 9 (12)Epub 1900 01 01.

Genetic biomarkers for the risk of seizures in long QT syndrome.

Auerbach DS, McNitt S, Gross RA, Zareba W, Dirksen RT, Moss AJ

Neurology.. 2016 October 1887 (16):1660-1668. Epub 07/27/2016.

Dmpk gene deletion or antisense knockdown does not compromise cardiac or skeletal muscle function in mice.

Carrell ST, Carrell EM, Auerbach D, Pandey SK, Bennett CF, Dirksen RT, Thornton CA

Human molecular genetics.. 2016 October 125 (19):4328-4338. Epub 08/13/2016.

Differential impact of type-1 and type-2 diabetes on control of heart rate in mice.

Stables CL, Auerbach DS, Whitesall SE, D'Alecy LG, Feldman EL

Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical.. 2016 January 194 :17-25. Epub 12/17/2015.

Scn1b deletion leads to increased tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current, altered intracellular calcium homeostasis and arrhythmias in murine hearts.

Lin X, O'Malley H, Chen C, Auerbach D, Foster M, Shekhar A, Zhang M, Coetzee W, Jalife J, Fishman GI, Isom L, Delmar M

The Journal of physiology.. 2015 March 15593 (6):1389-407. Epub 09/17/2014.

Altered cardiac electrophysiology and SUDEP in a model of Dravet syndrome.

Auerbach DS, Jones J, Clawson BC, Offord J, Lenk GM, Ogiwara I, Yamakawa K, Meisler MH, Parent JM, Isom LL

PloS one.. 2013 8 (10):e77843. Epub 10/14/2013.

Dynamic reciprocity of sodium and potassium channel expression in a macromolecular complex controls cardiac excitability and arrhythmia.

Milstein ML, Musa H, Balbuena DP, Anumonwo JM, Auerbach DS, Furspan PB, Hou L, Hu B, Schumacher SM, Vaidyanathan R, Martens JR, Jalife J

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.. 2012 July 31109 (31):E2134-43. Epub 04/16/2012.

A null mutation of the neuronal sodium channel NaV1.6 disrupts action potential propagation and excitation-contraction coupling in the mouse heart.

Noujaim SF, Kaur K, Milstein M, Jones JM, Furspan P, Jiang D, Auerbach DS, Herron T, Meisler MH, Jalife J

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.. 2012 January 26 (1):63-72. Epub 09/24/2011.

Structural heterogeneity promotes triggered activity, reflection and arrhythmogenesis in cardiomyocyte monolayers.

Auerbach DS, Grzda KR, Furspan PB, Sato PY, Mironov S, Jalife J

The Journal of physiology.. 2011 May 1589 (Pt 9):2363-81. Epub 03/08/2011.

Substrates and Triggers for the Initiation of Arrhythmias (PDF)

Auerbach, DS; Jalife, J.

Physiology News. 2011; 85: 15-17.

A major role for HERG in determining frequency of reentry in neonatal rat ventricular myocyte monolayer.

Hou L, Deo M, Furspan P, Pandit SV, Mironov S, Auerbach DS, Gong Q, Zhou Z, Berenfeld O, Jalife J

Circulation research.. 2010 December 10107 (12):1503-11. Epub 10/14/2010.

Spatial distribution of fibrosis governs fibrillation wave dynamics in the posterior left atrium during heart failure.

Tanaka K, Zlochiver S, Vikstrom KL, Yamazaki M, Moreno J, Klos M, Zaitsev AV, Vaidyanathan R, Auerbach DS, Landas S, Guiraudon G, Jalife J, Berenfeld O, Kalifa J

Circulation research.. 2007 October 12101 (8):839-47. Epub 08/17/2007.

Ventricular fibrillation: dynamics and ion channel determinants.

Noujaim SF, Auerbach DS, Jalife J

Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society. 2007 71 Suppl A :A1-11. Epub 1900 01 01.

Mechanisms of wave fractionation at boundaries of high-frequency excitation in the posterior left atrium of the isolated sheep heart during atrial fibrillation.

Kalifa J, Tanaka K, Zaitsev AV, Warren M, Vaidyanathan R, Auerbach D, Pandit S, Vikstrom KL, Ploutz-Snyder R, Talkachou A, Atienza F, Guiraudon G, Jalife J, Berenfeld O

Circulation.. 2006 February 7113 (5):626-33. Epub 1900 01 01.

The forensic investigation of propane gas asphyxiation.

Fonseca CA, Auerbach DS, Suarez RV

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology.. 2002 June 23 (2):167-9. Epub 1900 01 01.