Calmodulin changes that cause dangerous heart rhythms in CPVT
Official title: Multi-scale computational modeling of calmodulin mutations associated with CPVT
Funded at California State University Northridge · NIH-11323116 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using computer models to link calmodulin gene changes to dangerous heart rhythms in people with CPVT.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Northridge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Northridge, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $147,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM153647-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323116 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with CPVT or known calmodulin mutations (and their clinicians) are the most relevant audience for these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose arrhythmias are caused by other mechanisms, structural heart disease, or who lack calmodulin/RyR2 involvement may not benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
This project will use detailed computer simulations to see how tiny changes in calmodulin affect its binding to the RyR2 calcium channel. The team runs molecular dynamics to model the molecular binding and then uses cell- and tissue-level electrical models to see how those molecular changes could trigger abnormal heartbeats. By connecting molecular, cellular, and tissue scales, the work aims to explain how a single genetic mutation can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. The work is computational and does not involve direct patient procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify which calmodulin mutations raise arrhythmia risk and guide future targeted treatments or monitoring for CPVT patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous molecular and multi-scale cardiac models have advanced understanding of arrhythmias, but linking calmodulin-RyR2 mutations across scales to organ-level events is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
California State University Northridge
Northridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shiferaw, Yohannes — California State University Northridge
- Study coordinator: Shiferaw, Yohannes
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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.