Advanced Tools for Understanding Muscle Diseases
Official title: Analysis Tools for Fiber Diffraction of Muscle
Funded at Illinois Institute of Technology · NIH-11103378 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project creates new computer tools to better understand how muscles work and what goes wrong in heart and muscle diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Illinois Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $346,820 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM144555-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103378 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational work could eventually help patients with various heart conditions (cardiomyopathies) and skeletal muscle diseases by improving our understanding of these conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention would not directly benefit from this foundational tool development.
What this research studies
This project is building advanced computer programs, using artificial intelligence, to analyze detailed images of muscle fibers. These images, taken with powerful X-rays, help us see the tiny structures within muscles and how they move. By making these analysis tools more efficient and accurate, we can get clearer insights into the causes of muscle weakness and heart conditions. This work aims to improve how scientists interpret data from both animal models and human muscle samples, especially for conditions like cardiomyopathies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these new tools could speed up the discovery of new treatments for heart and muscle diseases by providing clearer insights into their underlying causes.
How similar studies have gone: While the core technique of X-ray fiber diffraction is established, the development of AI-powered, user-friendly software for this specific application represents a novel approach to data analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Irving, Thomas C — Illinois Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Irving, Thomas C
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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.