DNA damage and treatments for LMNA-related dilated cardiomyopathy
Official title: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targeting of DNA Damage in Dilated Cardiomyopathy Caused by LMNA Mutations
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11174304 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how DNA damage causes heart weakening in people with LMNA gene mutations and tests whether blocking DNA-sensing pathways can protect the heart.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $580,531 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL132401-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11174304 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with dilated cardiomyopathy caused by LMNA gene mutations who can provide medical records or tissue samples and who can travel to or coordinate with the research team in Houston.
✕Less likely to help
People whose heart disease has other causes or who do not have LMNA mutations are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific work.
What this research studies
If you join or donate samples, researchers will compare heart tissue from people with LMNA mutations and from mouse models to find where DNA breaks occur and how heart cells respond. They use genome-wide methods such as END-Seq and ATAC-seq to map double-strand DNA breaks and chromatin changes at high resolution. In mice, the team removes or blocks the cGAS–STING DNA-sensing pathway to see if reducing that signaling lowers inflammation, cell death, and fibrosis. They measure heart function, survival, and tissue scarring to determine if these steps could lead to targeted therapies for LMNA-related dilated cardiomyopathy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that slow or prevent heart failure in people with LMNA-related dilated cardiomyopathy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies by this team showed that deleting cGAS improved survival and heart function in mouse models, but translating this approach to people remains novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marian, Ali J — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Marian, Ali J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Discovery of rare genetic variants linked to dilated cardiomyopathy using big biobank data
A large-scale genetic study will look for rare gene variants that affect dilated cardiomyopathy to improve how we diagnose and manage the condition.
-
Understanding how muscle ribosome mutations cause severe neonatal dilated cardiomyopathy and ways to treat it
This grant focuses on a rare genetic heart condition in newborns caused by mutations in a muscle-specific ribosomal protein, with hopes to find new ways to diagnose and treat it.
-
Unlocking how rare genetic changes cause dilated cardiomyopathy
A large study will look at genetic data from many people to understand which rare variants affect dilated cardiomyopathy and how this changes risk and treatment.
-
Role of Lmod2 in heart muscle and dilated cardiomyopathy
This NIH grant explores how a heart-specific protein (Lmod2) helps heart cells contract properly and how its problems can cause dilated cardiomyopathy in infants and children.
-
Targeting DNA Damage Pathways in LMNA-Related Heart Disease
A study to understand how damaged DNA and inflammatory signals contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy caused by LMNA mutations and explore therapies that can protect the heart.
-
Using miRNA to find new treatment paths for dilated cardiomyopathy
Researchers are studying heart-muscle disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) to discover miRNA-based clues that could lead to targeted therapies for patients.
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.