Inherited arrhythmia conditions are complex and many questions remain about their diagnosis and management. A wide range of research is conducted in order to improve diagnosis, provide guidance for lifestyle changes, and develop treatments that improve the outcomes for individuals and families affected by these conditions.

The inherited arrhythmia research team at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver is actively involved in our clinical program. The team is available on clinic days to meet with families interested in participating in our research program. Participation is completely voluntary and has no impact on the quality of care patients receive.

The research team maintains a patient registry and a biobank. Registries and biobanks are resources that collect and store health information and biosamples in a centralized location. This allows for many research projects to use the same resources for studying different aspects of inherited arrhythmias.

Patients and families who are willing to participate in research projects can join the BC Inherited Arrhythmia Program (BCIAP) registry. As new research studies are developed, patients within the registry are screened for eligibility and are contacted if they meet the study criteria.

Patients of the program are also invited to donate a blood sample for biobanking. Blood samples contain genetic information that can be used to help us learn more about the role of genes, biology and environment in these inherited arrhythmias.