How the heart's energy and mechanics limit exercise in heart failure
Multi-Scale Systems Analysis of Metabolic and Mechanical Determinants of Reserve Cardiac Power Output
Using computer models combined with patient tests to find out why people with heart failure often get short of breath or tired during exercise.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11386101 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project combines detailed measurements from people with heart failure and healthy volunteers with computer models that link heart muscle energy use to whole-body circulation during exercise. Researchers will collect data on heart pumping, muscle metabolism, blood vessel responses, and reflex control, then build a multi-scale model that simulates exercise. The model will be used to pinpoint which metabolic and mechanical limits reduce the heart's ability to raise power output during activity. Findings aim to reveal markers and mechanisms that could guide more personalized care for people who struggle with exercise.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with heart failure who experience exercise intolerance and are willing to undergo detailed cardiovascular and metabolic testing would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People needing immediate medical treatment, those without heart or circulatory problems, or patients whose exercise limitation is primarily due to non-cardiac causes may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify why an individual with heart failure has low exercise capacity and suggest targets for more tailored treatments or rehabilitation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous physiological and modeling studies have informed aspects of heart energetics, but combining multi-scale human measurements with whole-body exercise simulation is a relatively new and integrative approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beard, Daniel a — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Beard, Daniel a
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 below.