Investigating how fat around the heart affects dangerous heart rhythms in donor hearts
Official title: Role of epicardial adiposity as a local mediator of VT/VF dynamics in donor human hearts
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11042847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how fat around the heart might affect dangerous heart rhythms in people, using donated human hearts to find new ways to predict and treat these issues for patients with obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL148523-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with obesity who are at risk for ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without obesity or those who do not have a history of heart rhythm disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the relationship between epicardial adiposity, or fat around the heart, and the occurrence of dangerous heart rhythms known as ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). By using donor human hearts, the study aims to explore how this fat may influence heart function through signaling mechanisms. The research employs a multimodal approach, combining various techniques to analyze the effects of obesity on heart health, with the goal of identifying new markers that could help predict and treat these arrhythmias in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved methods for predicting and treating life-threatening heart rhythms in patients with obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the impact of obesity on heart health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aras, Kedar Kirtikumar — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Aras, Kedar Kirtikumar
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.