Genetic clues for doxorubicin heart risk using patient-derived heart cells
Official title: Parallel Characterization of Genetic Variants in Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity Using iPSCs
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11468369 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project tests how human heart cells grown from stem cells react to a common chemotherapy to see which genetic differences may raise the risk of heart damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HL166773-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11468369 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with breast cancer or other cancers who may receive doxorubicin and whose genetic information could be used to identify risk factors for heart damage.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing doxorubicin therapy or without genetic data relevant to cardiotoxicity may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Ohio State University are using stem-cell derived heart cells to model how doxorubicin affects the heart. They will edit specific genetic variants in these cells to observe how each variant changes survival when exposed to the drug. The goal is to build a map of genetic risk factors that could guide safer, personalized chemotherapy choices in the future. This work builds on a high-throughput lab platform that analyzes many genes at once to identify the strongest contributors to cardiotoxicity. If successful, the findings could help tailor treatments and protect heart health for patients needing anthracycline therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This research could lead to genetic tests that help doctors choose safer chemotherapy plans for patients at higher risk of heart damage.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models and genome-wide approaches have shown promise in linking genetics to drug-induced heart damage, supporting this approach but the exact variants are still being defined.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nishiga, Masataka — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Nishiga, Masataka
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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.