How the c‑Src protein in heart mitochondria may weaken the right side of the heart in pulmonary hypertension

Role of Mitochondrial c-Src in Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Pulmonary Hypertension

NIH-funded research Ocean State Research Institute, INC. · NIH-11290408

Seeing if fixing how the mitochondrial protein c‑Src works can protect the right side of the heart in adults with pulmonary hypertension.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOcean State Research Institute, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Providence, United States)
Project IDNIH-11290408 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will look at the heart’s energy factories (mitochondria) in right‑sided heart muscle to understand how the protein c‑Src changes energy production and causes damage in pulmonary hypertension. They will study heart cells, mitochondrial complexes, and related chemical signals using laboratory models and tissue samples to trace how c‑Src affects complex I assembly and reactive oxygen species. The team aims to identify molecular steps that could be targeted by new drugs to support right ventricular function in adults with pulmonary hypertension.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (21+) with pulmonary hypertension, especially those showing right ventricular dysfunction, would be the group most likely to be eligible for related future trials or tissue‑donation opportunities.

Not a fit: People without pulmonary hypertension or whose right heart failure is due to irreversible structural damage are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that protect the right ventricle and improve outcomes for people with pulmonary hypertension.

How similar studies have performed: Mitochondrial‑targeting approaches have shown promise in lab and animal studies of heart disease, but specifically targeting mitochondrial c‑Src in the right ventricle of pulmonary hypertension is a novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Providence, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.