Energy and metabolism in enlarged and failing hearts

Energetic State and Metabolic Remodeling in Cardiac Hypertrophy and Failure

NIH-funded research Lsu Health Sciences Center · NIH-11143053

It tests whether strengthening the heart's energy-making machinery can help adults with pressure-related heart enlargement and heart failure.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionLsu Health Sciences Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Orleans, United States)
Project IDNIH-11143053 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From a patient's point of view, researchers are studying how the heart's energy factories (mitochondria) and overall metabolism change when the heart grows too large or starts to fail. They use gene therapy delivered by AAV9 in animal models to boost the F1Fo-ATP synthase complex and see if that restores energy production and heart function. The team also analyzes metabolic changes seen in human heart disease to connect the lab findings to patients. The goal is to move toward treatments that target heart energy problems caused by high blood pressure or aortic valve narrowing.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with cardiac hypertrophy from long-standing high blood pressure or aortic valve narrowing, or those with early-stage heart failure, would be the most relevant candidates for future related trials.

Not a fit: People with very advanced end-stage heart failure requiring transplant, or whose heart problems are not caused by mitochondrial energy deficits, are less likely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to gene-based therapies that improve heart energy use and help prevent or reverse heart failure.

How similar studies have performed: Animal studies, including the investigators' prior work, have shown that enhancing ATP synthase can restore heart function, but human testing of this approach is still new.

Where this research is happening

New Orleans, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.