Atrial heart proteins and how they control heartbeats
Official title: SPECIFIC REGULATION OF CARDIAC ATRIAL CONTRACTILITY
Funded at Loyola University Chicago · NIH-11412630 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research grant explores how specific atrial heart proteins control atrial contraction and may influence arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy in humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola University Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Maywood, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $606,357 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL181346-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412630 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with hereditary or suspected hereditary cardiomyopathy or atrial fibrillation, who may contribute tissue samples or participate in related future studies.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-atrial heart conditions or without genetic cardiomyopathy involvement may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how atrial-specific proteins, especially myosin binding protein-H-like, affect the force and regulation of atrial muscle. Researchers will examine how the amino-terminal region of these proteins interacts with the heart’s sarcomere and alters muscle force and the relaxed state of myosin. The study uses human and mouse samples to understand how mutations in these atrial proteins relate to atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy, aiming to uncover mechanisms that could guide future therapies. The work builds on prior findings showing a 1:1 balance of certain myosin-binding sites between human and mouse atria and will define when and how these regions regulate heart function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of atrial regulation could lead to new targets for treating atrial fibrillation and related heart diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work linked atrial-specific proteins to arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy, suggesting this approach could be informative, though the exact mechanisms remain to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barefield, David Y — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Barefield, David Y
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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.