Luisa Mestroni, MD
Professor, Medicine-Cardiology

Professor of Medicine/Cardiology
Co-Director, Molecular Genetics Program, University of Colorado Cardiovascular Institute
Principal Investigator, International Familial Cardiomyopathy Registry
Clinic (720) 848-5300
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Gender: Female
Languages: English, Italian
Department, Section/Division: Medicine-Cardiology

Practice Locations

UCHealth Heart Failure Program - Anschutz
12505 E. 16th Ave
Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion 2, 3rd floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-5300
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UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH)
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000
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UCHealth Heart & Vascular Center - Anschutz
12505 E. 16th Ave
Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion 2, 3rd floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-5300
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Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Cardiology (1989)
  • Cardiology - General Cardiology (1989)
  • Medical Genetics and Genomics
  • ECFMG/USMLE, License (2000)
  • National Board of Cardiology, International Certificate (1989)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Heart and Circulation
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Heart Diseases
  • Heart Failure
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Clinical Interest for Patients
I am Professor of Medicine/Cardiology, Director of the International Familial Cardiomyopathy Registry and Co-Director of the Molecular Genetics Program of the Cardiovascular Institute. My clinical expertise is in inherited cardiomyopathies, including arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies, familial cardiomyopathies (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricular noncompaction, familial restrictive cardiomyopathy), muscular dystrophies with cardiac involvement, and other genetic disease affecting the heart muscle. In my Inherited Cardiomyopathy Management Clinic, I provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of inherited cardiomyopathies, working in close collaboration with other experienced clinicians, genetic counselors, cardiovascular nurses, and study coordinators to provide a state-of-the-art team-based approach: these include the Adult Genetics Clinic, Electrophysiology Clinic, Advanced Heart Failure Clinic, HCM Clinic, Neuromuscular Clinic, Advanced Imaging, Sarcoidosis Clinic at National Jewish Hospital, and the Colorado Children's Hospital. I offer the opportunity of enrollment in National and International research programs, including novel clinical trials, and the International Familial Cardiomyopathy Registry (NIH founded, IRB 99-177, founded in 1999) to continue identifying the genes behind inherited disease, and discover novel therapies.

Care Philosophy
I strive to provide the best care for my patients. I believe in treating the person as a whole, taking every aspect of a patient’s body and health into consideration during diagnosis and treatment.

Personal Interests
In my spare time, I enjoy skiing, hiking, reading and spending time with my family.

Volunteer Activities
I volunteer as physician in sports activities of high school students.

Education & Training

Medical Schools:
  • MD, University of Trieste, School of Medicine, Italy (1979)

Undergraduate Schools:
  • BS, University of Trieste, School of Medicine, Italy (1979)

Internships:
  • University of Trieste, School of Medicine, Italy (1980)

Residency Program:
  • University of Trieste, School of Medicine, Italy, Cardiology (1980)

Fellowships:
  • University of Trieste, School of Medicine, Italy, Interventional Cardiology (1984)

Recognition & Awards

  • 2018 Distinguished Fellowship Award, International Academy of Cardiology (2018)
  • Fondation Leducq Transatlantic Network of Excellence, Fondation Leducq (2014)
    Prestigious International Award to conduct research on inherited arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies.
  • Academic Achievement Award, Western Society of Clinical Investigation (2014)
  • Permanent Study Section Member, NIH/CRS/CCHF (2011)
    Cardiac Contractility, Hypertrophy, and Failure ( CCHF), from 2011-2017
  • Dean’s Mentoring Award in Recognition of Exemplary Thesis Advising, Graduate School, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (2005)

Professional Memberships

  • American College of Cardiology, Fellow
  • American College of Physician, Fellow
  • American Heart Association (AHA), Fellow
  • American Society of Human Genetics, Member
  • European Society of cardiology, Fellow
  • European Society of Human Genetics, Member

Teaching

  • Professor of Medicine (1998)
    School of Medicine, Medicine
    Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathies, Genetic of Heart Disease

Research & Grants

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term="Mestroni L"[Author]
Grants
  • Nanotechnology for reconstructing damaged heart: engineering cardiac patches to repair cardiac function. (2021)
    John P. Albright Foundation, $20000
  • Cardiomyocyte phenotype and mechanotransduction in Filamin C gene variants causing arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (2020)
    NIH/NHLBI, $2632774
  • Gene discovery in heart failure (2020)
    Rose Foundation, $75000
  • Developing Smart 3D Scaffolds based on Conductive Polymers and Carbon Nanotubes for Cardiac Tissue Engineering — NanoBeat (2018)
    European Commission EC Global Fellowships 753293, $80000
  • Molecular Genetics, Pathogenesis and Protein-Replacement Therapy in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (2014)
    Fondation Leducq, $6000000
Research interests for Patients:
My research is dedicated to the study of genetics of heart muscle diseases, called cardiomyopathies. Since 1991, we have collected clinical information and DNA of over 2000 subjects from families with cardiomyopathies, initially in Italy and subsequently in the USA. Data and materials are collected in the International Familial Registry which has been supported by various grants of the NIH, AHA, UN, MDA. Through our researches on the molecular genetics of cardiomyopathies and analysis on genotype-phenotype correlations, several genes and pathways causing heart disease have been investigated in my laboratory, from cytoskeletal and sarcomeric genes, to ion channels. We are interested in the genes causing dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, left ventricular noncompaction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Our ongoing research has shown that specific genes may have a different prognosis and may suggest different management strategies. Functional studies of mutant cardiomyopathy genes are also performed to evaluate the consequences of the defective proteins on cellular models. We are currently exploring applications of nanotechnology, biophysics and bioengineering to the study of heart function and cardiomyopathies.

Information for Referring Providers

Clinical Interests for Referring Providers
My many clinical interests include Clinical Cardiology, Heart Failure, and Inherited Cardiomyopathies (DCM, HCM, ARVC, LVNC, rare cardiomyopathies).

Research Interest for Referring Providers
My research is dedicated to the study of genetics of heart muscle diseases, called cardiomyopathies. Since 1991, we have collected clinical information and DNA of over 2000 subjects from families with cardiomyopathies, initially in Italy and subsequently in the USA. Data and materials are collected in the International Familial Registry which has been supported by various grants of the NIH, AHA, UN, MDA. Through our researches on the molecular genetics of cardiomyopathies and analysis on genotype-phenotype correlations, several genes and pathways causing heart disease have been investigated in my laboratory, from cytoskeletal and sarcomeric genes, to ion channels. We are interested in the genes causing dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, left ventricular noncompaction and hypertrophic cardiomyopaty. Among the most important accomplishments are the discovery of dilated cardiomyopathy genes, such as lamin A/C (LMNA) associated with variable muscular involvement, FLNC, SCN5A and the recent discovery of the titin gene (TTN), the largest gene of the human genome, as a cause of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. We are also interested in genotype-phenotype association studies, which are critical to transfer bench-to-bedside knowledge. Our ongoing research has shown that specific genes may have a different prognosis and may suggest different management strategies. Functional studies of mutant cardiomyopathy genes are also performed to evaluate the consequences of the defective proteins on cellular models, and to pave the way to drug discovery. Concerning novel therapies, we have ongoing trials for inherited cardiomyopathies. We are currently exploring applications of nanotechnology and bioengineering to the study of heart function and cardiomyopathies.
Clinic Phone: (720) 848-5300

CV CURRICULUM VITAE Mestroni 2022.pdf