Hydrogen sulfide and GLP-1 combo therapy for HFpEF
Official title: Hydrogen Sulfide and GLP-1 Combination Therapy to Treat HFpEF
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11394533 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly look at a new treatment approach that combines hydrogen sulfide donors with GLP-1 agonists to help people with HFpEF feel better and stay out of the hospital.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $727,607 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL181016-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394533 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) who are suitable for experimental therapies and preclinical-to-clinical translation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HFpEF or those who cannot tolerate GLP-1 agonists or hydrogen sulfide–based therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant investigates a new combination therapy aimed at heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a condition with limited treatments. Researchers will use preclinical models to test whether hydrogen sulfide donors and GLP-1 agonists work better together than either alone to improve heart function, reduce inflammation, and enhance metabolism. The work builds on prior findings that GLP-1 drugs can lessen disease burden and that H2S may protect cardiovascular health, exploring how they interact in HFpEF. If results look promising, the team will translate these findings toward potential human studies to benefit patients with HFpEF in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a more effective treatment strategy for HFpEF that reduces hospitalization and improves quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: GLP-1 agonists have shown reduced hospitalizations in HFpEF and hydrogen sulfide signaling is a promising area; combined approaches are exploratory but grounded in prior evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lefer, David Joseph — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Lefer, David Joseph
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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.