How a specific protein affects heart muscle health and disease
Official title: FHOD3 Regulation of Autophagy Pathway in Cardiomyopathy
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11175408 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called FHOD3 affects heart muscle cells and could help us understand and treat conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by using special techniques to see how a specific gene change impacts heart health and cell repair.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $778,738 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175473-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11175408 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults with a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or those with a family history of heart disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any genetic predisposition to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or those with unrelated heart conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the FHOD3 protein in heart muscle cells and its impact on conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). By using advanced techniques such as CRISPR to create a mouse model with a specific genetic variant, researchers will explore how this variant influences heart function and the process of autophagy, which is crucial for cell health. The study aims to understand how stimulating or inhibiting autophagy can affect heart health in the context of this genetic variant, potentially leading to new treatment strategies for heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that improve heart health and function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of autophagy in heart disease, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huggins, Gordon S — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Huggins, Gordon S
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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.