Craig January, MD, PhD
Dr. January is currently a Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health. He attended medical school at the University of Iowa, where he received his medical degree in 1976 and a doctorate in Physiology and Biophysics in 1978. He completed his internship, residency and cardiology fellowship training at the University of Chicago. Dr. January remained at the University of Chicago until 1994. He joined the faculty of the UW Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in 1995 (section head 1995-1997) as a Professor of Medicine. He also holds an affiliate appointment in Physiology.
Dr. January has done seminal work defining the molecular mechanisms of the drug-induced or acquired long QT syndrome. This syndrome is manifest in some patients in response to many different drugs and can potentially lead to the lethal arrhythmia, torsades de pointe. His work has demonstrated that many of these agents prolong the QT interval by blocking HERG channels. His work has defined abnormalities in protein trafficking of several HERG mutations which lead to the long QT syndrome. This has allowed for development of safer pharmaceuticals with a lower incidence of cardiac proarrhythmia. His ongoing research examines the molecular basis of the interactions of these drugs with the HERG potassium channel.
Dr. January is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and member of several societies including the American Heart Association Basic Sciences Council, Wisconsin Heart Association, Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, Central Society for Clinical Research, Biophysical Society, and North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. He has served extensively on peer-review panels including National Institutes of Health Cardiovascular Study Sections, national American Heart Association review sections, and VA merit review panels. Dr. January teaches in both clinical and basic settings.
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