Exploring how vagal nerve stimulation can prevent dangerous heart rhythms after a heart attack
Official title: Antiarrhythmic mechanisms of chronic vagal nerve stimulation in sympathetic neurons
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10904666 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a treatment called vagal nerve stimulation might help people who have had a heart attack by improving heart function and preventing dangerous heart rhythms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $503,642 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL164311-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10904666 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a myocardial infarction and are at risk for ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a heart attack or have other unrelated cardiac conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of chronic vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) on heart function, particularly focusing on how it can help prevent life-threatening heart rhythms like ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation after a heart attack. The study aims to understand the mechanisms behind VNS and its ability to restore balance in the nervous system that controls heart activity. By using advanced techniques and a multidisciplinary approach, researchers will explore how VNS impacts sympathetic neurons and reduces the risk of arrhythmias. This could lead to new therapeutic strategies for patients who have suffered from myocardial infarction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new treatment option for patients at risk of dangerous heart rhythms following a heart attack.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with vagal nerve stimulation in animal models and some human trials, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ajijola, Olujimi a — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Ajijola, Olujimi a
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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.