Assessing heart damage from chemotherapy using human heart cells

High-throughput assessment of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in 3D human cardiomyocytes

NIH-funded research Emory University · NIH-10936818

This study is looking at how chemotherapy can affect heart health, especially by causing irregular heartbeats, and it uses human heart cells to find better ways to protect cancer patients from these side effects.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEmory University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Atlanta, United States)
Project IDNIH-10936818 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how chemotherapy drugs can cause heart damage, particularly focusing on the risk of arrhythmias. By using human heart cells derived from stem cells, the study aims to create a high-throughput system to evaluate the effects of these drugs on heart function. The approach allows for a more accurate understanding of how chemotherapy impacts heart health compared to traditional animal models. The goal is to identify potential new treatments to prevent or mitigate heart-related side effects in cancer patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy, particularly those treated with anthracyclines or similar drugs.

Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy or those with pre-existing severe heart conditions may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies that protect patients' hearts during cancer treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using human cell models to study drug effects, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Atlanta, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.