Lipid damage and mitochondria: new ways to protect the Fontan heart
Official title: Lipid Peroxidation-Induced Mitochondrial Injury Inhibits Vascular Function in Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11330408 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford-led study aims to find new targets and biomarkers to preserve heart function in children with Fontan circulation by looking at how oxidative stress damages heart cell powerhouses and affects blood vessels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $653,424 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL165245-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330408 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children and adolescents with Fontan circulation and ongoing heart/circulation issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Fontan physiology or those not experiencing heart-related complications may not benefit.
What this research studies
Many children with a single-ventricle heart after Fontan surgery develop heart failure despite standard drugs. This project will look at how chronic oxidative stress damages mitochondria and contributes to vascular problems, hoping to identify new therapies and early warning biomarkers. Researchers will study heart tissue and blood signals to understand how damaged mitochondria affect both the heart and overall circulation. The work focuses on cell-to-cell communication in the cardiovascular system to pinpoint actionable targets. Results could lead to treatments that improve long-term heart function for these patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could yield new therapies and biomarkers to slow or prevent Fontan-related heart failure in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury to Fontan failure, with ongoing efforts to translate findings into therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reddy, Sushma — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Reddy, Sushma
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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.