Dr. McCully’s research focuses on the mechanisms and subcellular localization of the biochemical and molecular events contributing to myocardial cell death.
The McCully Lab studies the damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion injury in people of all ages including neonatally, with particular emphasis on the development of novel and specific cardioprotective protocols.
Recently, Dr McCully developed a new technique using a patient’s own mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, to protect the heart. This research has shown that transplanting healthy mitochondria into the damaged area of the heart shortly after blood flow is restored significantly improves the patient’s recovery.
The transplanted mitochondria help repair and protect the cells from the inside out, increasing the production of proteins to promote healing without triggering an immune response or rejection.
Dr Jim McCully is attending CCRG to lend his expertise and guidance to their own going cardiothoracic transplantation research program.