Jil Tardiff

Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Professor, Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program
Professor, BIO5 Institute
Member of the Graduate Faculty
Jil Tardiff

Medical Research Building 312

520.626.8001
jtardiff@arizona.edu

Jil Tardiff, MD, PhD, is a professor of medicine and cellular and molecular medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson and a member of the Clinical and Translational Institute at the BIO5 Institute. She attended the University of California at Berkeley where she completed her B.A. in Genetics in 1984. She subsequently completed her M.D. and a Ph.D. (in Cell Biology) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City in 1992. Dr. Tardiff pursued her house staff training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. As one of the first participants in the ABIM Clinician-Scientist pathway as a Markey Fellow, she completed an internal medicine residency coupled to a combined clinical-research fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Columbia. In 2001 she joined the faculty at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine as an assistant professor of medicine and physiology and biophysics. She remained on faculty at Einstein, achieving the rank of associate professor. In 2012 Dr. Tardiff joined the faculty at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where she currently holds the Steven M. Gootter Endowed Chair for the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death.

As a physician-scientist, Dr. Tardiff’s work focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the development of the most common form of genetic cardiomyopathy, those caused by mutations in proteins of the cardiac sarcomere, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). These complex disorders affect one in 500 individuals of all ages and represent the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in the field. Her studies detailing the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis at the level of individual cells using transgenic mouse models has been continuously funded by the NIH since 2001 and the work has been cited in support of new clinical trials to evaluate novel treatment modalities for this challenging cardiomyopathy.  More recently, in collaboration with Steven Schwartz in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Arizona, her lab has developed computational approaches to modeling and eventually predicting disease severity based on protein structure. To fully translate these basic research findings to the clinical realm, one of her main goals remains the development of an HCM Center of Excellence at the University of Arizona where patients from all over the southwest can obtain lifelong cutting edge medical care for this complex and often devastating disorder. 

Dr. Tardiff was awarded $1.4 million (NIH grant number HL075619) to continue her lab’s study of “Integrative Approach to Divergent Remodeling in Thin Filament Cardiomyopathies.” Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is an often devastating and common cardiac genetic disease. The goal of this research is to improve the understanding of how independent mutations cause this complex disorder and discover better therapeutic options, especially in young people.

Degrees

  • PhD Cell Biology
    • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States
  • MD
    • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States
  • BA Genetics
    • University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States

Work Experience

  • University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2012 - Ongoing)
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2008 - 2012)
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2001 - 2008)
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1998 - 1999)

Courses

Independent Study

MCB 399 (Fall 2019)
NSCS 399 (Spring 2018)
 

Honors Independent Study

BIOC 499H (Spring 2018)
BIOC 499H (Spring 2017)
ECOL 399H (Spring 2020)
PSIO 399H (Spring 2024)
PSIO 399H (Fall 2023)
PSIO 399H (Fall 2016)
PSIO 499H (Spring 2017)
 

Cardio Muscle Bio & Disease

BME 484 (Spring 2024)
BME 484 (Spring 2023)
BME 484 (Spring 2022)
BME 484 (Spring 2021)
BME 484 (Spring 2020)
BME 484 (Spring 2017)
BME 584 (Spring 2024)
BME 584 (Spring 2023)
BME 584 (Spring 2022)
BME 584 (Spring 2021)
BME 584 (Spring 2020)
BME 584 (Spring 2017)
CMM 484 (Spring 2024)
CMM 484 (Spring 2020)
CMM 584 (Spring 2024)
CMM 584 (Spring 2022)
CMM 584 (Spring 2021)
CMM 584 (Spring 2020)
CMM 584 (Spring 2019)
CMM 584 (Spring 2017)
MCB 484 (Spring 2023)
MCB 484 (Spring 2021)
MCB 484 (Spring 2020)
MCB 484 (Spring 2019)
MCB 584 (Spring 2021)
PSIO 484 (Spring 2024)
PSIO 484 (Spring 2023)
PSIO 484 (Spring 2022)
PSIO 484 (Spring 2021)
PSIO 484 (Spring 2020)
PSIO 484 (Spring 2019)
PSIO 484 (Spring 2018)
PSIO 484 (Spring 2017)
PSIO 584 (Spring 2024)
PSIO 584 (Spring 2023)
PSIO 584 (Spring 2022)
PSIO 584 (Spring 2021)
PSIO 584 (Spring 2019)
PSIO 584 (Spring 2018)
 

Directed Research

BIOC 492 (Fall 2016)
BME 492 (Fall 2019)
MCB 792 (Fall 2021)
PSIO 492 (Spring 2020)
PSIO 492 (Spring 2017)
PSIO 492 (Fall 2016)
 

Honors Thesis

BIOC 498H (Spring 2018)
BIOC 498H (Fall 2017)
PSIO 498H (Spring 2018)
PSIO 498H (Fall 2017)
 

Biology For Biomed Engr

BME 510 (Fall 2024)
BME 510 (Fall 2023)
BME 510 (Fall 2022)
BME 510 (Fall 2021)
BME 510 (Fall 2020)
BME 510 (Fall 2019)
 

Rsrch Meth Biomed Engr

BME 592 (Fall 2023)
BME 592 (Fall 2021)
BME 592 (Fall 2020)
BME 597G (Fall 2019)
 

Clinical/Indus Internshp

BME 693A (Summer I 2022)
 

Rsrch Meth Psio Sci

PS 700 (Fall 2021)
PS 700 (Fall 2017)
PS 700 (Spring 2017)
PS 700 (Fall 2016)

Research

CMM 900 (Spring 2023)
CMM 900 (Fall 2022)
PS 900 (Spring 2023)
PS 900 (Fall 2019)
PS 900 (Spring 2019)
PS 900 (Fall 2018)
PS 900 (Spring 2018)
PS 900 (Fall 2017)
PS 900 (Spring 2017)
PS 900 (Fall 2016)
 

Master's Report

BME 909 (Spring 2023)
BME 909 (Fall 2022)
 

Thesis

BME 910 (Fall 2022)
PS 910 (Spring 2017)
PSIO 910 (Fall 2022)
PSIO 910 (Fall 2019)
 

Dissertation

BME 920 (Fall 2024)
BME 920 (Spring 2024)
BME 920 (Fall 2023)
BME 920 (Spring 2023)
BME 920 (Fall 2022)
BME 920 (Spring 2022)
BME 920 (Fall 2021)
BME 920 (Spring 2021)
BME 920 (Fall 2020)
BME 920 (Spring 2020)
BME 920 (Fall 2019)
BME 920 (Spring 2019)
BME 920 (Fall 2018)
BME 920 (Spring 2018)
BME 920 (Fall 2017)
BME 920 (Spring 2017)
BME 920 (Fall 2016)
BME 920 (Spring 2016)
CMM 920 (Fall 2024)
CMM 920 (Spring 2024)
CMM 920 (Fall 2023)
CMM 920 (Spring 2016)
PS 920 (Spring 2024)
PS 920 (Fall 2023)
PS 920 (Spring 2023)
PS 920 (Fall 2022)
PS 920 (Spring 2022)
PS 920 (Fall 2021)
PS 920 (Spring 2021)
PS 920 (Fall 2020)
PS 920 (Spring 2020)
PS 920 (Fall 2019)
PS 920 (Spring 2019)
PS 920 (Fall 2018)
PS 920 (Fall 2017)
PS 920 (Spring 2017)
PS 920 (Fall 2016)
PS 920 (Spring 2016)

Licensure & Certification

  • Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine (1996)
  • Cardiovascular Diseases, American Board of Internal Medicine (2002)

Selected Publications

Chapters

  • Simon, J. N., Tardiff, J. C., & Wolska, B. M. (2013). Sarcomeres and the Biophysics of Heart Failure. In Biophysics of the Failing Heart. Springer, New York, NY. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-7678-8_11
  • Tardiff, J. C., & Solaro, R. J. (2013). Introduction to the Biophysics of the Failing Heart. In Biophysics of the Failing Heart. Springer, New York, NY. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-7678-8_1

Journals/Publications

  • Day, S. M., Tardiff, J. C., & Ostap, E. M. (2022). Myosin modulators: emerging approaches for the treatment of cardiomyopathies and heart failure. The Journal of clinical investigation, 132(5).
  • Keyt, L. K., Duran, J. M., Bui, Q. M., Chen, C., Miyamoto, M. I., Silva Enciso, J., Tardiff, J. C., & Adler, E. D. (2022). Thin filament cardiomyopathies: A review of genetics, disease mechanisms, and emerging therapeutics. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 9, 972301.
  • Maack, C., & Tardiff, J. C. (2022). Targeted therapies for cardiac diseases. Nature reviews. Cardiology, 19(6), 343-344.
  • Mason, A. B., Tardiff, J. C., & Schwartz, S. D. (2022). Free-Energy Surfaces of Two Cardiac Thin Filament Conformational Changes during Muscle Contraction. The journal of physical chemistry. B, 126(21), 3844-3851.
  • Pioner, J. M., Vitale, G., Gentile, F., Scellini, B., Piroddi, N., Cerbai, E., Olivotto, I., Tardiff, J., Coppini, R., Tesi, C., Poggesi, C., & Ferrantini, C. (2022). Genotype-Driven Pathogenesis of Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The Case of Different Mutations. Frontiers in physiology, 13, 864547.
  • Tardiff, J. C., Argirò, A., Ho, C., Day, S. M., van der Velden, J., Cerbai, E., Saberi, S., Lakdawala, N. K., & Olivotto, I. (2022). Sex‐Related Differences in Genetic Cardiomyopathies. Journal of the American Heart Association, 11(9). doi:10.1161/jaha.121.024947
  • Tardiff, J. C., Chakraborti, A., & Schwartz, S. D. (2022). Insights into the Mechanism of the Cardiac Drug Omecamtiv Mecarbil─A Computational Study. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 126(48), 10069-10082. doi:10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06679
  • Tardiff, J. C., Schwartz, S. D., Baldo, A. P., Deranek, A. E., & Lynn, M. L. (2022). Structure and Dynamics of the Flexible Cardiac Troponin T Linker Domain in a Fully Reconstituted Thin Filament. Biochemistry, 61(13), 1229-1242. doi:10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00091
  • Baldo, A. P., Tardiff, J. C., & Schwartz, S. D. (2021). A Proposed Mechanism for the Initial Myosin Binding Event on the Cardiac Thin Filament: A Metadynamics Study. The journal of physical chemistry letters, 12(14), 3509-3513.
  • Baldo, A., Klass, M. M., Tardiff, J. C., Schwartz, S. D., Lynn, M. L., & Castillo, R. (2021). Calcium Dissociation of HCM Causative R21C Troponin I Mutation. Biophysical Journal, 120(3). doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.985
  • Baldo, A., Tardiff, J. C., Schwartz, S. D., & Deranek, A. E. (2021). Mapping the Cardiac Troponin T Linker Region to Actin and Determining Pathogenic Point Mutational Effects. Biophysical Journal, 120(3). doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.1627
  • Baldo, A., Tardiff, J. C., Schwartz, S. D., Deranek, A. E., & Baldo, A. (2021). Mapping the Cardiac Troponin T Linker Region to Actin and Determining Pathogenic Point Mutational Effects. Biophysical Journal, 120(3), 250a. doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.1627
  • Chakraborti, A., Baldo, A. P., Tardiff, J. C., & Schwartz, S. D. (2021). Investigation of the Recovery Stroke and ATP Hydrolysis and Changes Caused Due to the Cardiomyopathic Point Mutations in Human Cardiac β Myosin. The journal of physical chemistry. B, 125(24), 6513-6521.
  • Greenberg, M. J., & Tardiff, J. C. (2021). Complexity in genetic cardiomyopathies and new approaches for mechanism-based precision medicine. The Journal of general physiology, 153(3).
  • Klass, M. M., Tardiff, J. C., Schwartz, S. D., Lynn, M. L., Klass, M. M., Castillo, R., & Baldo, A. (2021). Calcium Dissociation of HCM Causative R21C Troponin I Mutation. Biophysical Journal, 120(3), 128a-129a. doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.985

Presentations

  • Tardiff, J. C. (2021, August 2021). A Physician Scientist's Journey: Linearity is Overrated. Keynote for Early Stage Investigator's Symposium at the AHA Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Meeting. Virtual: American Heart Association.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2021, August 2021). Allosteric Modulation of Myofilament Ca2+ Kinetics as a Potential Mechanism for Impaired Relaxation in Thin Filament Linked HCM. American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Meeting. Virtual: American Heart Association.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2021, Dec 2021). Modifying the Cardiac Thin Filament: New Approaches to Identifying Potential Targets. Invited Lecture for Bristol Myers Squibb. Virtual: Bristol Myers Squibb / MyoKardia - Connecticut.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2021, March 2021). Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in 2021: Linking Molecular Mechanisms to Patient Management, What a Long Strange Trip its Been. Northwestern Medical Center Cardiovascular Grand Rounds. Virtual: Northwestern Unversity Medical School.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2021, March 2021). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Modulators of Thin Filament Function: The Potential for Novel Therapeutic Targets in HCM. Invited Talk University of Minnesota Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology. Virtual: University of Minnesota.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2021, March 2021). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Modulators of Thin Filament Function: The Potential for Novel Therapeutic Targets in HCM. Northeast Ohio Medical University Invited Lecture. Virtual: Northeast Ohio Medical University.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2021, Sept 2021). Allosteric Regulation of Myofilament Ca2+ Kinetics in Thin Filament HCM. International Society for Heart Research, North American Section Meeting. Denver, CO: International Society for Heart Research.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2020, October). Navigating the Transition: Mid Career Challenges and Strategies. International Society for Heart Research: North American Session Meeting. Virtual: International Society for Heart Research.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2019, April 25). Community Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in 2019: Challenges and the Need for New Therapeutics. Novartis HCM Advisory Board Meeting. Boston, MA: Novartis.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2019, April 6). The Role of Allostery in the Pathogenesis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: New Mechanisms and Targets. UCLA Cardiovascular Theme: Distinguished Seminar Series. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA College of Medicine, Cardiology Theme.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2019, Jan 10). Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in 2019: Embrace the Complexity. Cedars-Sinai: Cardiology Grand Rounds. Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles: Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2019, Jan 10). The Role of Allostery in the Pathogenesis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: New Mechanisms and Targets. Smidt Heart Institute Research Seminar. Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles: Smidt Heart Institute.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2019, June 15). Fetal cTnT Acts as an Intrinsic Modifier of Thin Filament Structure, Dynamics and Function in Health and Disease. International Society for Heart Research: World Congress, Beijing. Beijing, China: International Society for Heart Research.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2019, March 13). Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in 2019: Embrace the Complexity. Vanderbilt Department of Medicine: Cardiology Grand Rounds. Nashville TN: Vanderbiilt University College of Medicine.
  • Tardiff, J. C. (2019, March 23). Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in 2019: Embrace the Complexity. Novartis Invited Research Seminar. Boston, MA: Novartis.

Awards

  • New Investigator Award
    • AHA Scientific Conference on Molecular, Cellular, and Integrated Physiologic Approaches to the Failing Heart, Summer I 1999
  • Research Fellowship
    • Markey Foundation, Summer I 1994
  • Regent's Scholarship
    • University of California at Berkeley, Fall 1980
  • Fellow of the ISHR
    • International Society for Heart Research, Summer I 2021
  • Association of University Cardiologists Member
    • Association of University Cardiologists, Spring 2021
  • Fellow
    • American College of Cardiology, Summer I 2011
    • American Heart Association, Summer I 2010
  • Election to the Leadership Council of the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences
    • American Heart Association, Spring 2010
  • Election as Chair of Contractile and Regulatory Proteins Interest Group
    • ISHR, Fall 2009
  • Election to Council
    • International Society of Heart Research, Summer I 2009
  • Henry Moses Prize for Research Excellence
    • Montefiore Medical Center, Fall 2001
  • Wyeth-Ayerst Women in Cardiology Award
    • American Heart Association, Fall 2000