How genes cause heart failure
From genetic basis to mechanisms for Heart Failure
Using powerful lab tests on heart muscle cells, researchers will link specific gene changes to how heart failure develops to help people with the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Broad Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11253272 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses human-relevant heart muscle cells grown in the lab to see how genes tied to heart failure change cell behavior. Scientists use CRISPR to make targeted gene changes and two high-throughput readouts, Cell Painting (to capture cell structure) and Perturb-seq (to capture gene activity), to create detailed molecular and cellular fingerprints. They match these fingerprints to genetic risk signals from large GWAS studies to find which genes truly drive disease processes. The work aims to point to specific genes or pathways that could become targets for new, more precise heart-failure treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with any form of heart failure, especially those with known genetic risk or who have contributed genetic samples to research, would be most relevant to the findings.
Not a fit: People whose heart failure is caused purely by non-genetic factors or who need immediate clinical care are less likely to benefit directly from this lab-based work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets and lead to more precise treatments for people with heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: High-throughput cell-based methods like Cell Painting and Perturb-seq have identified disease mechanisms in other fields, but applying them to heart failure is a newer and evolving approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Broad Institute, INC. — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xiao, Ling — Broad Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Xiao, Ling
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.