Genes that keep the heart's natural pacemaker and wiring healthy and help it repair
Genetic dissection of Cardiac Conduction System homeostasis and Repair
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · NIH-11237191
This project explores how specific genes and cell signals keep the heart's electrical wiring working and how that knowledge could help people with arrhythmias heal after injury.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11237191 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is using lab models and single-cell gene analysis to see how the heart's conduction system (the pacemaker and wiring) stays stable and how it repairs after damage. They focus on the Hippo signaling pathway and its key proteins (Yap/Taz and Lats1/2) and how these interact with other signals like TGF-β. In mice, changing these genes affected rhythm problems and repair, so researchers will map these effects cell-by-cell to find which cells and pathways matter most. The goal is to find targets that could be turned into treatments down the road.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with cardiac conduction system disorders or arrhythmias, especially those with conduction damage after heart injury or ablation, are the people most likely to benefit from future therapies coming from this work.
Not a fit: People without conduction system problems or with unrelated heart conditions are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or repair conduction-system damage and reduce arrhythmias in patients.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal experiments have shown that altering Hippo-pathway genes changes conduction-system health and arrhythmia risk, but translating those findings into human treatments remains early-stage.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WANG, JUN — UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- Study coordinator: WANG, JUN
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.