How calcium inside heart cells affects heart health
Modulating mitochondrial calcium in cardiac homeostasis and disease
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · NIH-11166592
This project explores how calcium levels within the energy-producing parts of heart cells affect heart failure, hoping to find new ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11166592 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Heart failure, a leading cause of death worldwide, is often linked to problems with how heart cells produce energy. Our cells have tiny powerhouses called mitochondria, and calcium levels within them are crucial for making energy. However, too much calcium can harm these powerhouses and even lead to cell death. This work aims to understand how both high and low calcium levels in mitochondria contribute to heart problems. We are using advanced mouse models to carefully map out these effects in different types of heart failure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with heart failure, specifically those with reduced or preserved ejection fraction, could potentially benefit from future therapies developed from this foundational work.
Not a fit: Patients without heart failure or those whose condition is not related to mitochondrial calcium regulation may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that adjust mitochondrial calcium levels to improve outcomes for people with heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: While the role of mitochondrial calcium in heart failure is an active area of investigation, this specific approach of precisely modulating key genes to understand its contribution is a novel and foundational step.
Where this research is happening
MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA — MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LIU, JULIA CHANG — UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- Study coordinator: LIU, JULIA CHANG
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.