AAV gene therapy and a catheter device to stop ventricular tachycardia after a heart attack
Novel Gene Therapy, Techniques, and Devices to Prevent Ventricular Tachycardia
Uses AAV gene delivery and a minimally invasive catheter technique to fix dangerous heart electrical problems in people who have had a heart attack and are at risk for ventricular tachycardia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rithim Biologics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Woodbine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11165093 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops a way to ‘paint’ gene therapy onto the outer surface of the heart with a small catheter so therapeutic AAV vectors reach the scar border zone left after a heart attack. It targets KCNE3 and KCNE4 proteins that create uneven repolarization and can trigger reentrant ventricular tachycardia. The team is finalizing a prototype catheter that can deliver the therapy without open‑chest surgery and will test safety and effect in laboratory and animal experiments as a step toward human use. The work aims to turn these preclinical methods into a practical treatment pathway for patients with scar‑related VT.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have had a prior myocardial infarction and have scar‑related ventricular tachycardia or are judged at high risk for scar‑related VT.
Not a fit: People whose arrhythmias are not caused by post‑MI scar (for example primary electrical disorders or atrial arrhythmias) or who cannot receive gene therapy or invasive catheter procedures would likely not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce or prevent life‑threatening post‑infarct ventricular tachycardia and lower sudden cardiac death risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work shows epicardial gene painting can deliver genes to heart tissue and that KCNE3/4 are linked to VT in preclinical models, but applying AAV epicardial delivery to prevent post‑MI ventricular tachycardia in patients is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Woodbine, United States
- Rithim Biologics, INC. — Woodbine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anderson, Ronald Lee — Rithim Biologics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Anderson, Ronald Lee
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.