Ceramides and Diastolic Heart Failure
Ceramides in Diastolic Heart Failure
This work explores how certain fats called ceramides might cause changes in the heart that lead to a type of heart failure, potentially opening new treatment avenues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140545 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our hearts need to relax properly to fill with blood, but in diastolic heart failure, they become stiff. We are looking into whether specific fats, called ceramides, play a key role in making the heart stiff and causing this condition. Early findings in models suggest that reducing these ceramides can prevent heart changes, and we've also found higher levels of ceramides in heart failure patients. This suggests that targeting these ceramides could offer a new way to help hearts relax better and improve heart function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for individuals living with or at risk of developing diastolic heart failure, particularly heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Not a fit: Patients whose heart failure is primarily due to issues other than ceramide accumulation may not directly benefit from this specific therapeutic approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new medications for diastolic heart failure, a condition with limited treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Early findings in models and patient samples suggest ceramides are involved, but targeting them therapeutically for heart failure is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holland, William L — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Holland, William L
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.