How calmodulin and a heart enzyme control the heart's calcium-release channel
Calmodulin and Regulation of Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor and CaMKII
Looking at how calmodulin and the enzyme CaMKII change the main calcium-release channel in hearts of adults with heart failure or dangerous heart rhythms to find new drug targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252579 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses a new fluorescence method to watch the heart's calcium-release channel (RyR2) move in near-physiological conditions. The team combines those live measurements with high-resolution structural pictures, cell-level imaging, and animal heart models. They test drug-like compounds in those models to see whether abnormal shapes and calcium leaks can be corrected. The aim is to turn those molecular findings into ideas for future treatments that reduce arrhythmias and improve heart function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with heart failure or recurrent cardiac arrhythmias could be the main future beneficiaries and may be candidates for related clinical follow-up or sample-donation efforts.
Not a fit: People without heart disease or those seeking immediate, direct treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because the work is primarily preclinical and mechanistic.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new drugs that prevent harmful calcium leaks, lowering the risk of arrhythmias and improving heart failure outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked RyR2 and CaMKII to arrhythmia and heart failure, but using dynamic fluorescence to reveal real-time structural shifts and test drug-like fixes is a relatively novel extension.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bers, Donald M — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Bers, Donald M
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.