Deciphering how carnitine may help treat Chagas disease
Official title: Deciphering the mechanism of action of carnitine, a novel treatment for chronic Chagas disease
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11374836 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researchers at San Diego State University are studying how the drug L-carnitine could help people with Chagas disease by reducing heart damage and improving symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | July 12, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $527,460 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI170605-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374836 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with acute or chronic Chagas disease who could benefit from improved therapies and who may participate in future translation or clinical studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Chagas disease or those not suitable for future trials may not benefit.
What this research studies
Chagas disease can cause serious heart problems, and current treatments aren’t ideal. This project aims to uncover exactly how L-carnitine works to help the heart during T. cruzi infection, which could support safer and more effective therapies. The work combines laboratory studies and analyses of how the drug interacts with parasites and heart tissue, with attention to safety and potential use alongside standard treatments. If the mechanism is understood, L-carnitine could be developed further toward clinical use because it is affordable, available, and already approved for other conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding the mechanism could speed development of safer, more effective treatments for Chagas-associated heart disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests L-carnitine has potential, but the exact mechanism in chronic T. cruzi infection remains to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccall, Laura-Isobel — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Mccall, Laura-Isobel
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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.