Inflammatory and Genetic Heart Disease: Using Metabolic Clues to Guide Diagnosis and Therapy
Official title: Inflammatory and Genetic Cardiomyopathies: Metabolic Phenotyping to Guide Diagnosis and Therapy
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11378198 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to improve diagnosis and treatment decisions for people with complex heart muscle diseases by combining metabolic data, genetics, and advanced imaging.
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 start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $675,763 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL172820-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378198 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis, genetic cardiomyopathies, or idiopathic 18FDG-avidity who may benefit from combined metabolic, imaging, and genetic evaluation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with clearly defined, unrelated heart conditions or those unable to undergo PET imaging or genetic testing.
What this research studies
This project will enroll patients who may have cardiac inflammatory or genetic cardiomyopathies and use PET imaging, genetic testing, and metabolic studies to better distinguish between conditions. Researchers will also apply voltage-guided endomyocardial biopsy with enhanced tissue analysis to learn how these diseases manifest and respond to treatment. The goal is to create a practical approach that helps doctors decide when genetic testing or PET scans are needed and to develop less invasive tests to explain abnormal heart signals. By turning bedside observations into lab insights, the study seeks to tailor therapies to individual patients and prevent unnecessary treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans that avoid unnecessary therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that integrating imaging and genetics can reveal misdiagnosed cases and guide therapy, with ongoing exploration in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nazer, Babak — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Nazer, Babak
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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.