Investigating how environmental damage to telomeres affects heart function
Official title: Telomere dysfunction driven molecular outputs in the cardiac unit
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11044049 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how things in our environment can harm the protective ends of our chromosomes, called telomeres, and how that damage might affect heart health as we age, helping us understand more about how these factors could lead to heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $566,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES035733-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11044049 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing early signs of cardiac dysfunction, particularly those with a history of environmental exposures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with congenital heart defects or those who do not have age-related cardiac dysfunction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how environmental factors can cause damage to telomeres, which are protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, and how this damage impacts heart health. The study will explore the molecular mechanisms that link telomere dysfunction to mitochondrial function and cellular aging in heart cells. By using innovative tools to induce oxidative damage specifically at telomeres, the researchers aim to uncover the role of this damage in the early onset of age-related cardiac dysfunction. This could lead to new insights into how environmental exposures contribute to heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating age-related cardiac dysfunction linked to environmental factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that telomere dysfunction is linked to various diseases, but this specific approach using chemoptogenetic tools to study cardiac dysfunction is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gurkar, Aditi U — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Gurkar, Aditi U
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Elastomeric membranes for safer pelvic organ prolapse repair
A new 3D-printed elastomeric membrane made from polycarbonate urethane is being tested to replace stiff polypropylene meshes for pelvic organ prolapse in women, aiming to reduce complications.
-
Role of hyaluronan in egg development and ovarian reserve
This grant studies how the hyaluronan matrix in the ovary affects the aging of the female reproductive system and the pool of eggs available.
-
Regulatory switches that control imprinting in early human development
This grant studies how certain genes stay “one-copy” active in early development and what goes wrong in assisted reproduction, with a focus on imprinting disorders.
-
Identifying molecular signs of imprinting errors linked to fertility treatments
This grant studies how assisted reproductive technologies may cause imprinting errors in embryos and how these errors relate to certain birth conditions, with implications for families using infertility treatments.
-
Bioadhesive vaginal film for 7-day protection against HIV, HSV, and pregnancy
A vaginal film that slowly releases antibodies to prevent HIV, HSV, and unintended pregnancy for about a week from a single use.
-
Spermatogonial stem cell transplantation and culture in patients
Researchers are testing a way to transplant or grow sperm-producing cells back in boys and men who stored tissue before cancer treatment, to help them have biological children in the future.
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.