How the heart's ANP receptor controls blood pressure and heart health

Structural Dynamics and Regulatory Mechanisms of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Receptor

NIH-funded research Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11248047

This project will learn how the heart hormone receptor (GC-A) changes shape and sends signals so people with high blood pressure or heart disease might benefit from better treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWeill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11248047 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will image the ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) receptor at high resolution to see how its shape changes when it binds the hormone. They will test how those shape changes turn on the receptor's signaling in cells and in animal models. The team will also map the parts of the receptor that control activity and use biochemical tests to see how modifications change function. Findings aim to reveal steps that could be targeted by new medicines to boost ANP signaling.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with hypertension or heart failure linked to impaired ANP/GC-A signaling would be the kinds of patients who might benefit from future therapies informed by this work.

Not a fit: People without cardiovascular disease or whose conditions are unrelated to ANP signaling are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets or ways to boost the heart-protective ANP pathway to lower blood pressure and reduce heart disease.

How similar studies have performed: Genetic mouse studies and clinical use of natriuretic peptides support the importance of this pathway, but detailed high-resolution structural work on GC-A is largely novel.

Where this research is happening

New York, 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 2026-06-13 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.