Research at Geirsson Lab

Dr Arnar Geirsson

Current Research Focus

Dr. Geirsson's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms, surgical management, and translational treatment of valvular heart disease, with particular emphasis on myxomatous mitral valve degeneration, robotic valve repair, and artificial intelligence-driven surgical planning. His laboratory integrates murine models, human tissue studies, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, advanced imaging, and clinical outcomes research to develop novel therapeutic strategies and improve patient outcomes.

  • Therapeutic targeting of mTOR and integrin signaling in murine and human models of myxomatous mitral valve disease.
  • Multi-modal AI-based prediction of mitral valve anatomy and repair strategies using robotic surgical videos, echocardiography, and CT imaging.
  • Leadership of the Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Outcome Research Group, focusing on robotic repair and comparative analyses of transcatheter and surgical approaches.

Selected Recent Publications (2024–Present)

  • Integrin-mediated mTOR signaling drives TGF-β overactivity and myxomatous mitral valve degeneration in hypomorphic fibrillin-1 mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation (2025).
  • Cross-Species Multi-Omics Profiling Identifies Conserved Activated Valvular Interstitial Cell Population Driving Myxomatous Mitral Valve Degeneration. bioRxiv (2026).
  • Robotic Mitral Valve Repair for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation. Annals of Thoracic Surgery (2024).
  • Implementing Formal Mitral Heart Team Improves Multidisciplinary Evaluation Rate and Survival of Patients With Severe Primary Mitral Regurgitation. Journal of the American Heart Association (2024).
  • Longitudinal outcomes following international multicentre experience with robotic aortic valve replacement. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (2025).
  • The 2026 American Association for Thoracic Surgery Expert Consensus Document: Management of atrial functional mitral regurgitation. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (2026).
  • Mitral Valve Repair for Degenerative MR With Moderate or Less Tricuspid Regurgitation: 2-Year Outcomes. Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2026).

Leadership & Other Important Contributions

  • Leads translational research in mitral and tricuspid valve disease.
  • Integrates artificial intelligence, advanced imaging, and clinical outcomes research to optimize valve repair strategies.
  • Collaborates across basic science, engineering, and cardiac surgery disciplines.