Caspase‑9: a key link between types of heart‑cell death during heart attacks
Caspase-9 as a nodal point connecting necrotic and apoptotic cell death in myocardial infarction
This work sees if blocking a protein called caspase‑9 can reduce death of heart muscle cells after a heart attack in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11112547 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine study how a protein called caspase‑9 connects two different ways heart cells die during a heart attack and after blood flow is restored (reperfusion). They use laboratory experiments in mice and cultured cells, genetic models, and protein‑level screening to map the pathway by which caspase‑9 causes necrosis separate from its role in apoptosis. By identifying the molecules caspase‑9 interacts with, the team aims to reveal targets that could be blocked by future drugs to protect the heart. This is lab and animal focused research rather than a patient treatment trial, but it is intended to guide therapies patients might receive later.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have had a heart attack, especially those treated with reperfusion (restoration of blood flow), are the people this research aims to help and who could be candidates for future clinical studies.
Not a fit: People without heart disease, or those with heart attacks that are not treated with reperfusion, are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to treatments that limit heart damage during and after a heart attack, helping preserve heart function.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies that targeted cell‑death pathways have sometimes reduced heart damage, but turning those findings into effective human treatments has been challenging; the caspase‑9 necrosis link is a newer and promising angle.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kitsis, Richard N — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Kitsis, Richard N
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 below.