Cellular and Molecular Clues to LVNC Heart Disease
Official title: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of the Pathogenesis of Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy (LVNC)
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-11450200 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study on why a childhood heart condition called LVNC develops, using genetic tools and a new mouse model to uncover the cellular changes and heart cell interactions involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | November 15, 2014 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $798,732 |
| NIH project number | 2R01HL121700-12A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450200 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with LVNC or relatives at risk may benefit from improved understanding and future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits to patients are not guaranteed during the basic science phase, and immediate clinical effects may be limited.
What this research studies
This project will investigate how heart muscle cells change and relocate during LVNC development. Researchers will use genetic tracing, single-cell RNA sequencing, and a new isoproterenol-induced mouse model, along with two genetic LVNC models, to map how trabeculation and deep recesses form. They will test whether compact-zone heart cells move into trabecular regions and how beta-adrenergic signaling influences this process. The work aims to connect cellular behavior with disease progression and identify potential points for future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding LVNC at the cellular level could guide future treatments to prevent or slow disease progression in affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in LVNC and cardiac development have shown that cell lineage and signaling pathways influence trabeculation, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Mingfu — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Wu, Mingfu
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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.