How obesity affects the heart in HFpEF
Official title: Intersection of Obesity and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11253294 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how obesity changes heart muscle in people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction to help develop more tailored treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,089,224 |
| NIH project number | 5R35HL166565-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11253294 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults diagnosed with HFpEF, particularly those who are obese or have diabetes/metabolic syndrome, and who can attend clinic visits and possibly provide tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without HFpEF or those unwilling/unable to undergo invasive testing such as myocardial biopsy are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would join work led at Johns Hopkins that focuses on people with HFpEF, many of whom are obese, female, and African American, to understand how obesity and metabolic problems change the heart. The team collects detailed clinical information and obtains heart tissue biopsies along with metabolic and molecular testing to look for specific cellular and metabolic changes. Comparing patient subgroups helps pinpoint biological pathways linked to worse symptoms and outcomes. The goal is to identify precise targets that could guide new treatments and to validate findings using laboratory models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to more effective, personalized treatments for obese patients with HFpEF that reduce symptoms and improve outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies have suggested metabolic and fibrotic changes in HFpEF but this program's detailed tissue-based approach is relatively novel and more comprehensive.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kass, David Alan — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kass, David Alan
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How obesity affects heart function in patients with preserved ejection fraction
This study is looking at how obesity affects the heart in people with heart failure, especially focusing on African American and female patients, to help find better treatments tailored to their needs.
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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.