Cardiac TP receptor blocking to protect the heart in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Official title: Activity and therapeutic antagonism of the TP receptor in cardiomyopathy of muscular dystrophy
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11391058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if blocking the thromboxane-prostanoid receptor helps prevent heart damage in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $688,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167110-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391058 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy or related muscular dystrophy conditions affecting the heart may benefit from this line of therapy in the future.
✕Less likely to help
The findings may not directly translate to all muscular dystrophy patients or to those without cardiac involvement.
What this research studies
This project tests whether stopping the TP receptor from signaling can reduce heart fibrosis and improve heart function in models of muscular dystrophy. Researchers will use mouse models and heart cells to study how TP receptor activity unlocks TGF-β and drives fibrosis, and how blocking it changes these processes. The work builds on prior findings that the TP receptor antagonist ifetroban improved heart outcomes in mice and is being studied in a Phase 2 trial for DMD patients. The study will explore how TP receptor blockade or genetic deletion affects fibrosis pathways and heart cell death, providing a clearer path toward potential therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could validate a therapeutic approach to slow or prevent heart failure in DMD patients by targeting the TP receptor.
How similar studies have gone: Prior mouse studies and existing Phase 2 trials in DMD suggest this approach can improve heart outcomes, though human data are still evolving.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: West, James D — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: West, James D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How immune cells affect the heart in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
This work looks at how immune cells called macrophages contribute to heart damage in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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3D printed human heart model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cardiomyopathy progression
A patient-friendly 3D-printed heart model using stem cells and gene editing helps study how DMD affects the heart over time and tests potential therapies.
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Connexin-43 and Duchenne heart problems: a new target to protect the heart in DMD
Researchers are studying whether a heart protein called Connexin-43 can be adjusted to help people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy avoid dangerous heart problems.
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Metabolic imaging to detect early muscle and heart changes in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy
Using advanced metabolic imaging to find early muscle and heart changes in people with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy.
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Predicting heart disease progression in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy
This project will look for blood tests and heart-imaging signs that predict how heart disease will progress in people with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy and in genetic carriers.
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Investigating Connexin 43's role in heart issues related to Duchenne muscular dystrophy
This study is looking at how a protein called Connexin 43 affects heart health in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, with the goal of finding new ways to help prevent heart problems like arrhythmias and heart failure.
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.