Improving donor heart preservation by targeting mineralocorticoid (aldosterone) receptor clumps
Targeting Mineralocorticoid Receptor Condensates to Optimize Donor Heart Preservation
This work tests whether blocking mineralocorticoid receptor clumps can help donor hearts stay healthier during storage so they work better after transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249687 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, researchers are looking at a hormone receptor in heart tissue that forms sticky clumps during cold storage and may harm donor hearts. They use mouse models, laboratory studies, and samples from human donor hearts to study these receptor condensates and how they change with preservation. The team will test drugs already used clinically that block the mineralocorticoid (aldosterone) receptor, such as canrenone, to see if treating hearts during storage reduces damage. The goal is to translate lab findings into better ways to preserve donor hearts and lower early transplant failure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults awaiting heart transplantation or those who may receive donor hearts preserved with the improved preservation approach.
Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing heart transplantation or whose donor hearts cannot be treated during preservation are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower rates of primary graft dysfunction and increase the number of usable donor hearts for people needing transplants.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies and lab work have shown that mineralocorticoid receptor blockers can protect hearts in models, but applying this to human donor heart preservation is a newer translational step.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Paul — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Tang, Paul
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.