How exercise protects the heart at the cellular level
Understanding the Cardiac Benefits of Exercise at the Cellular and Molecular Level
This project explores how exercise changes heart cells and whether copying those changes could help people with heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use laboratory experiments and animal models to map how exercise alters heart cells, inflammation, and scarring. They will pinpoint the molecules and pathways that let exercise boost cardiomyocyte survival and the generation of new heart muscle cells. Promising molecular targets will be tested in preclinical models to see if mimicking exercise effects can prevent or reverse heart failure. The overall goal is to convert these basic discoveries into therapies that could help people with weakened hearts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with heart failure, especially those with reduced cardiac function, are the patient group most likely to benefit from future clinical trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People without cardiac disease or those with unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that mimic exercise to prevent or reverse heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical studies show exercise can boost heart cell regeneration and that mimicking exercise-related pathways reversed heart failure in animal models, but translation to people is still unproven.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosenzweig, Anthony — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Rosenzweig, Anthony
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.