Genes and heart tissue changes linked to heart failure in older adults
Integrative genomic and transcriptomic investigation of human heart failure mechanisms
This project looks at DNA and gene activity in human heart tissue to find genes that cause or raise the risk of heart failure, especially in older adults.
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 ID | NIH-11352482 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use paired whole-genome (DNA) and whole-transcriptome (RNA) data from about 750 human heart samples in the NHLBI TOPMed collection. They will combine genetic variant data with gene-expression in heart tissue to see how rare single-gene (Mendelian) mutations and more common risk variants overlap and interact in dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. The team will test which genetic variants identified in prior genome-wide studies actually change gene expression in the heart and search for new heart-failure genes that remain undiscovered.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with heart failure or dilated cardiomyopathy, particularly older adults, or individuals willing to donate samples or join genetic/registry studies would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate treatment for symptoms or whose heart failure is driven purely by non-genetic causes may not see direct benefit from this genetic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal genetic causes of heart failure and point to new targets for diagnosis and personalized treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genetic and GWAS studies have identified some heart-failure and dilated cardiomyopathy genes, but combining whole-genome and paired heart RNA data at this scale is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taylor, Matthew R — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Taylor, Matthew R
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 below.