How the heart's natural pacemaker adjusts to stretch
Molecular mechanisms of mechanosensation in the cardiac pacemaker
This project explores how the heart's natural pacemaker senses and responds to changes in stretch, which helps it adjust your heart rate.
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 ID | NIH-11092189 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Your heart is constantly working and adapting to your body's needs, like when you exercise or relax. It has a natural pacemaker that adjusts your heart rate based on signals it receives, including how much it stretches. We want to understand the specific molecules that allow the pacemaker to sense this stretch and speed up your heart when needed. By focusing on special channels called PIEZO channels, we hope to uncover how this vital process works at a molecular level. This knowledge could help us better understand conditions where the heart's rhythm is irregular.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals with conditions related to heart rate acceleration and cardiac arrhythmias in the future.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention for their heart conditions would not directly benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of heart rate regulation and potentially new ways to address heart rhythm problems.
How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of the heart adjusting to stretch is known, the specific molecular players, like PIEZO channels, in the cardiac pacemaker's response have not yet been explored.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moreno, Claudia Marcela — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Moreno, Claudia Marcela
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.