Improving heart recovery after blood flow is restored following a heart attack
Enhancing Autophagy and Mitochondrial Biogenesis to Mitigate Cardiac Reperfusion Injury
This study is looking at ways to help heart cells heal better after they've been without blood flow, like after a heart attack, by boosting their ability to clean up damaged parts and make new ones, which could lead to new treatments that protect your heart from further damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10868434 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding and improving the recovery of heart cells after they have been deprived of blood flow and then restored. It investigates how enhancing two key processes—autophagy, which helps clear damaged mitochondria, and mitochondrial biogenesis, which promotes the creation of new mitochondria—can protect heart cells from injury. By using specific peptides and pharmacological agents, the research aims to restore the balance of mitochondrial health during the critical period after blood flow is restored. Patients may benefit from new therapies developed from these findings that could reduce heart damage after a heart attack.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a myocardial infarction and are at risk of reperfusion injury.
Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced a heart attack or those with advanced heart failure may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly reduce heart damage and improve recovery after heart attacks.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in enhancing autophagy and mitochondrial function, suggesting that this approach could be effective in treating reperfusion injury.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Min — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Xie, Min
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.