How heart pacemakers sense stretch and speed up
Official title: Molecular mechanisms of mechanosensation in the cardiac pacemaker
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11369783 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at the University of Washington will explore how PIEZO channels in the heart’s pacemaker help the heart beat faster when the heart experiences stretch.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $388,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL162609-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369783 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with cardiac rhythm disorders or those at risk for arrhythmias, particularly where heart stretch and rate changes are clinically relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without heart rhythm disorders or those not affected by mechanical stretch responses may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will test whether PIEZO channels act as the molecular sensors that cause the heart’s pacemaker to accelerate its rhythm when the heart fills with more blood. They will create pacemaker-specific mouse lines to study this mechanosensing and the connection between mechanical stretch and heart rate changes. The project aims to map how stretch signals are converted into electrical pace adjustments, advancing our understanding of mechano-electrical coupling in the heart. Findings could illuminate how abnormal stretching contributes to arrhythmias and guide future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding mechanosensing in the heart could lead to new strategies to treat heart rhythm disorders and improve patient management during stress or illness.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown PIEZO channels are involved in mechanotransduction in other tissues, but their role in the human heart’s pacemaker is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moreno, Claudia Marcela — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Moreno, Claudia Marcela
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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.