Cardioprotective Y RNA signals in heart macrophages
Official title: Mechanisms of cardioprotective Y RNA signaling in macrophages
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11415116 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team at Cedars-Sinai is studying how a small RNA from heart-supporting cells might boost the heart’s healing after a heart attack by changing macrophage behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $685,656 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175335-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415116 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who have had a myocardial infarction or are at risk of heart attack may benefit from future therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People with conditions unrelated to heart attack or those not eligible for future RNA-based therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will look at a tiny RNA from the YRNA family that is found in extracellular vesicles released by reparative heart cells. Researchers will test how this RNA, yREX3, influences macrophages to improve dead-cell clearance and protect heart tissue after myocardial infarction. They plan to confirm the signaling steps, examine how macrophages contribute to tissue healing, and explore broader protective effects from these primed macrophages. The study uses cell-based and animal models to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new heart-preserving therapies. If successful, this work could pave the way for RNA-therapy strategies to reduce damage after a heart attack.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new RNA-based approaches that reduce heart damage after a heart attack and support better recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that small RNAs can influence macrophage behavior and tissue repair, making this a plausible and potentially impactful approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ibrahim, Ahmed — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ibrahim, Ahmed
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.