How fibroblasts may worsen heart damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Official title: Paracrine actions of fibroblasts promote pathologic cardiac myocyte remodeling in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11101331 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether signals from fibroblast cells make heart muscle damage worse in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $509,741 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL158647-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11101331 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, especially those concerned about or monitored for heart complications, would be the most relevant group.
✕Less likely to help
People without DMD or whose heart disease stems from unrelated causes would not be expected to benefit directly from this specific research.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team is studying how non-muscle support cells called fibroblasts influence heart muscle in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). They examine molecular signals—especially the hormone FGF23—that fibroblasts release and how those signals change heart muscle cell structure and function. The work uses laboratory studies including a genetic mouse model of DMD and cell experiments to trace these harmful pathways. The goal is to find mechanisms that could be targeted by future treatments to protect the heart.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to slow or prevent heart damage in people with DMD.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked elevated FGF23 to cardiovascular events in kidney disease and the general population, but targeting fibroblast-derived FGF23 in DMD heart disease is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Welc, Steven S — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Welc, Steven 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.