Investigating how a hormone affects heart health during stress
Official title: Role of arginine-vasopressin and V1A receptor in psychosocial stress-induced myocardial injury
Funded at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · NIH-10902002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a hormone called arginine-vasopressin might help protect your heart during stressful times, especially if you experience anxiety or feel socially isolated, and it could lead to better understanding for both animals and people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edinburg, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $99,087 |
| NIH project number | 5K01HL145339-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10902002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing high levels of psychosocial stress, particularly those with a history of heart issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any psychosocial stress or those who do not have cardiovascular risk factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and its receptor in the heart's response to psychosocial stress. It aims to understand how stress-related factors like anxiety and social isolation can lead to heart problems such as myocardial infarction. By studying the interactions between the brain and heart, the researchers hope to identify how AVP can help protect heart function during stressful situations. The study involves both animal models and potential implications for human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that protect the heart from stress-induced damage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of stress hormones in heart health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gil, Mario — University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Study coordinator: Gil, Mario
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neutrophil-monocyte communication to improve heart healing after a heart attack
A patient-centered look at how white blood cells talk to each other after a heart attack to help the heart heal better.
-
Understanding how to care for heart injury during sepsis
This study looks at how doctors evaluate and treat heart injury that can happen when sepsis occurs, using real patient records to find better, more actionable care patterns.
-
How a new PET tracer spots heart scarring
This project looks at whether a PET tracer made from FDG can reveal early scarring in injured hearts.
-
Different types of heart attacks and other heart muscle injuries in a long-term, diverse community cohort
Using 14 years of MESA data, the team will reclassify heart attacks and non-ischemic heart muscle injuries to link each type to different risk factors.
-
Improving care for heart injury during sepsis
This project aims to find better ways to understand and treat heart muscle injury that can happen when someone has sepsis.
-
How neutrophils and monocytes coordinate to help the heart heal after a heart attack
The team is learning how early immune cells (neutrophils and monocytes) clear damage and calm inflammation after a heart attack to improve healing.
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.