NIH-funded research R01 grant

CEST imaging of muscle energy in heart failure patients

Official title: CEST Imaging of Regional Skeletal Muscle Energetics and the Relationship with Exercise Intolerance in Heart Failure

Funded at Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger · NIH-11444251 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A heart-failure study tests a new MRI method to map how muscles use energy during exercise in adults with heart failure.

More Heart Failure research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2020
Project endMay 31, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$811,485
NIH project number2R01HL149742-05A1
Project IDNIH-11444251 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with diagnosed heart failure who can safely undergo MRI and exercise testing.

Less likely to help

Individuals unable to have MRI scans or participate in exertion-based assessments may not benefit from this study.

What this research studies

This project will use advanced MRI techniques to visualize how the skeletal muscles in adults with heart failure manage energy during and after exercise. By comparing creatine and phosphocreatine dynamics with muscle fatigue, it aims to identify noninvasive markers of muscle energy health. The findings could help doctors better understand why exercise intolerance occurs and eventually guide personalized treatment strategies. Participants may undergo MRI scans and light exercise protocols to assess muscle energy changes.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to better diagnosis and monitoring of muscle energy problems in heart failure, informing targeted therapies to improve exercise tolerance.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests muscle energy metabolism is linked to fatigue in heart conditions, but noninvasive mapping with CEST MRI is a newer approach that requires validation.

Where this research is happening

  • Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
    Baltimore, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Xu, Jiadi — Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
  • Study coordinator: Xu, Jiadi

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.