Improving heart relaxation to help patients with heart failure
Official title: Leveraging Mechanical Control of Relaxation to Improve Diastolic Function
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11007266 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the way your heart works can be improved to help it relax better, which is important for people with heart failure, and it aims to find new treatments by understanding how heart muscle behaves.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $342,762 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL151738-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11007266 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with heart failure, particularly those experiencing diastolic dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with heart conditions unrelated to diastolic dysfunction or those who do not have heart failure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how mechanical factors influence the heart's ability to relax, which is crucial for patients with heart failure. The team has discovered that the rate at which the heart muscle relaxes can be enhanced by understanding the relationship between muscle strain and relaxation. By studying the mechanics of myosin detachment from actin in heart tissues, the researchers aim to identify new ways to improve diastolic function, potentially leading to novel treatments for heart failure. Patients may be involved in assessments that measure these mechanical properties in their heart.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for heart failure that improve patients' quality of life and overall heart function.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of leveraging mechanical control of relaxation is novel, similar studies have shown promise in understanding heart mechanics and improving heart function.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Charles S — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Chung, Charles S
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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.