How heart muscle cells control inflammation
Official title: YAP and IRF2BP2 regulation of cardiomyocyte innate immune responses
Funded at Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, INC · NIH-11235142 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how heart muscle cells use specific proteins to turn inflammation on or off after injury, which could help people with heart damage or heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Utica, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $624,659 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL146810-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11235142 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with recent heart attack, cardiomyopathy, or heart failure who could donate tissue or be eligible for future trials focused on heart inflammation would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without heart disease or whose condition is unrelated to inflammatory signaling in heart muscle are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project explores how heart muscle cells respond to danger signals and control inflammation after injury. Researchers will focus on two proteins (called YAP and IRF2BP2) that help turn inflammatory signals up or down in these cells. They will use lab-grown heart cells, animal models, and analysis of heart tissue to study pathways that produce inflammatory molecules and reactive oxygen species. The goal is to find mechanisms that could be targeted to reduce damage and scarring after heart attacks or during heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to limit harmful inflammation in the heart and prevent loss of heart muscle.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies suggest YAP and IRF2BP2 can influence inflammatory signaling in heart cells, but turning these findings into human therapies is still new.
Where this research is happening
-
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, INC
Utica, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Zhiqiang — Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, INC
- Study coordinator: Lin, Zhiqiang
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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.