Finding why sudden cardiac death happens in dilated cardiomyopathy and how to stop it
Official title: Elucidating the Origin of Sudden Cardiac Death in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: from Phenotype Predictors to Therapeutic Targets
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11292375 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at whether genetics and heart scarring can predict and help prevent deadly heart rhythms in people with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 5, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $655,501 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL164634-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11292375 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with dilated nonischemic cardiomyopathy, particularly those with a family history of cardiomyopathy or unexplained arrhythmias, who are willing to undergo genetic testing and advanced heart imaging.
✕Less likely to help
People with ischemic cardiomyopathy (heart damage from prior heart attacks) or unrelated cardiac conditions are less likely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would join a project that combines genetic testing, advanced heart imaging, and clinical follow‑up to find who with dilated cardiomyopathy is most likely to have dangerous heart rhythms. The team will use next‑generation sequencing to look for gene variants and cardiac MRI to measure fibrosis, then link those findings to patient outcomes. Laboratory studies will explore how the implicated genes and scar tissue cause arrhythmias and may point to new treatment targets. Researchers plan to enroll familial and clinic cohorts and use detailed clinical information to build a precision approach for predicting and preventing sudden cardiac death.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors identify patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who are at high risk of sudden cardiac death and guide targeted monitoring or therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked certain gene mutations and MRI‑detected fibrosis to higher arrhythmia risk, but combining genetics, imaging, and mechanistic lab studies for precise prediction is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mestroni, Luisa — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Mestroni, Luisa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.