Mimicking fasting effects to treat heart muscle diseases
Official title: Treating secondary cardiomyopathies by mimicking the adaptive hepatic glucose fasting response
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11190523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a natural sugar called trehalose might help treat heart muscle diseases by mimicking the benefits of fasting, which could protect your heart after events like heart attacks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $612,000 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL147968-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals with cardiometabolic diseases or those at risk of developing heart muscle conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cardiometabolic related heart issues or those who do not respond to dietary interventions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how mimicking the body's response to fasting can help treat heart muscle diseases, particularly those related to cardiometabolic issues. The approach focuses on activating liver glucose metabolism, which has shown promise in animal models for protecting the heart from damage after events like heart attacks. By using a natural sugar called trehalose, the research aims to replicate the benefits of intermittent fasting, potentially leading to new therapies for patients with heart conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments that protect the heart and improve outcomes for patients with cardiometabolic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using fasting and caloric restriction approaches in animal models, suggesting potential for success in human applications.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Debosch, Brian Jesse — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Debosch, Brian Jesse
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Intermittent fasting and blood sugar in adults with diabetes
A study will look at how two forms of intermittent fasting might improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
-
Fatty acid signals that control protein production during fasting and aging
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-
Intermittent fasting with PD-1 inhibitors for non-small cell lung cancer
This grant tests whether a fasting-mimicking diet can boost the effectiveness of PD-1 inhibitors for people with non-small cell lung cancer.
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Fasting-mimicking diet and cancer stem cells in Wilms tumor
Aiming to see if a fasting-mimicking diet can boost cancer-killing treatment while protecting healthy cells in children with Wilms tumor.
-
Intermittent Fasting to Boost Fracture Healing in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
A study tests whether intermittent fasting can improve bone healing in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes by changing the gut microbiome.
-
Intermittent fasting and nutrition counseling to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes
A large 12-month program will compare time-restricted eating, intermittent energy restriction, and standard nutrition education to see which approach best improves blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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.