C. William Balke, MD
Professor of Medicine
Phone314-652-4100
Additional Titles
- Chief of Cardiology, St. Louis VA Health Care System
Related Links
Education
- B.S. Biology: Haverford College, Haverford, PA (1975)
- B.A. Philosophy & Comparative Literature: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (1977)
- M.D.: Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (1981)
- Internship: Osler Medical Service, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (1982)
- Residency: Osler Medical Service, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (1984)
- Clinical and Research Fellow, Cardiovascular Division: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (1985)
- Assistant Chief of Service: Osler Medical Service, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (1986)
- Clinical and Research Fellow, Cardiovascular Division: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (1988)
- Visiting Clinical and Research Electrophysiology Fellow, Cardiology Section: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (1988)
- Post-doctoral Research Fellow: Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (1991)
Board Certifications
- Cardiovascular Disease
Recognition
1990-1991
Samuel M. Jacobson, MD Fellow of the AHA-Maryland Affiliate
1990
Clinician-Scientist Award, American Heart Association
1990-1995
Physician-Scientist Award, National Institutes of Health
1998-2002
Established Investigator Award, American Heart Association
2001
Fellow, Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences, American Heart Association
Fellow, American Heart Association (FAHA)
2004
Fellow, American College of Physicians (FACP)
2010-2012: Member, NIH College of CSR Reviewers
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the role of individual ions (especially calcium) as second messengers in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes relevant to cardiovascular function. Active research projects include: (1) the investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of excitation-contraction-relaxation coupling in normal cardiac atrial and ventricular cells and multicellular preparations (i.e. trabeculae) obtained from animal and human hearts, (2) the study of the cellular mechanisms responsible for the systolic and diastolic abnormalities of contraction characteristic of hypertensive heart disease (cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure) in single cells and trabeculae obtained from animal models of contractile dysfunction and failing human hearts, (3) the investigation of the biophysical properties and physiological function of a newly described sodium channel in cardiac muscle. Experimental techniques include: (1) the patch clamp technique (whole-cell & single channel variations), (2) epifluorescence microscopy with ion-selective fluorescent indicators, (3) flash photolysis of “caged” compounds, (4) laser scanning confocal microscopy (single & two photon), and (5) mathematical modeling.