Clonal blood-cell mutations and sudden cardiac death risk
Official title: Clonal Hematopoeisis of Indeterminate Potential and Risk of Autopsy-defined Sudden Cardiac Death
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11231246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for a connection between clonal blood-cell mutations (CHIP) and sudden cardiac death in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $789,407 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL157247-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11231246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults (age 21+) who can provide blood or tissue samples or are part of an autopsy-defined sudden cardiac death case series.
✕Less likely to help
People without CHIP mutations or whose deaths are shown to be non-cardiac would be less likely to benefit directly from these findings in the near term.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are linking genetic tests for common CHIP mutations (like TET2, DNMT3A, ASXL1) to a uniquely detailed autopsy series of sudden cardiac deaths collected at UCSF. They use blood or tissue samples and DNA sequencing to see whether people with CHIP mutations more often have autopsy-confirmed heart-related sudden death rather than non-cardiac causes. Because the cohort is defined by autopsy, the team can more accurately separate true arrhythmic cardiac deaths from other types of sudden death. The work combines genetic data with clinical and autopsy findings to clarify whether CHIP raises the risk of fatal arrhythmias.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If a link is confirmed, this could help identify people at higher risk for sudden cardiac death and guide monitoring or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Large genomic studies have previously tied CHIP to higher cardiovascular risk, but applying CHIP analysis specifically to autopsy-confirmed sudden cardiac death is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tseng, Zian H — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Tseng, Zian H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Imaging-Enhanced Prediction of Sudden Cardiac Death Risk in Pediatric Heart Disease
Aims to create a better, non-invasive way to predict which children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are at risk of sudden death so doctors can choose who truly needs an ICD.
-
Dynamic predictors of sudden cardiac death in people with coronary artery disease
Aims to improve how we predict who is at risk of sudden cardiac death by looking at changes in heart signals over time.
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KChIP2-JNK2 axis therapy for preventing sudden cardiac death
A new approach targets how heart cells mishandle calcium to reduce dangerous heart rhythms in people at risk of sudden death.
-
Finding why sudden cardiac death happens in dilated cardiomyopathy and how to stop it
Looks at whether genetics and heart scarring can predict and help prevent deadly heart rhythms in people with dilated cardiomyopathy.
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Targeting a specific pathway to prevent sudden cardiac death in heart failure patients
This study is looking at a specific pathway in the heart to see if it can help reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death in people with heart failure, and it hopes to find new treatments to manage dangerous heart rhythms that can happen with this condition.
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Understanding the causes of sudden cardiac death in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
This study is looking at how certain genetic factors and heart changes can help doctors find out which patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are at risk for serious heart problems, so they can create better treatments and prevention plans for them.
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.