miRNA-guided approaches to find new treatments for dilated cardiomyopathy
Official title: Using miRNA to identify new therapeutic pathways for dilated cardiomyopathy
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11164745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at tiny RNA molecules in lab-grown human heart cells to find new treatment targets for people with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $248,743 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL165099-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164745 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with dilated cardiomyopathy—especially those with known pathogenic gene variants or who can provide tissue or blood samples for iPSC creation—would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without dilated cardiomyopathy or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because the work is preclinical and lab-based.
What this research studies
Researchers will use stem cells from people with dilated cardiomyopathy to grow heart cells in the lab and study microRNAs that are increased in failing hearts. They will compare microRNAs that appear to help the heart versus those that harm it, including whether some effects depend on a person’s specific genetic variant. The team uses an experimental platform with patient-derived iPSC-cardiomyocytes and molecular testing to map how these microRNAs work. This is lab-based, preclinical work aimed at identifying targets for future therapies rather than providing treatments to patients now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new, targeted therapies tailored to certain genetic forms of dilated cardiomyopathy.
How similar studies have gone: Related lab studies using iPSC-derived heart cells and microRNA approaches have produced promising preclinical leads, but clinical translation remains limited so this approach is still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Briganti, Francesca — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Briganti, Francesca
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Discovery of rare genetic variants linked to dilated cardiomyopathy using big biobank data
A large-scale genetic study will look for rare gene variants that affect dilated cardiomyopathy to improve how we diagnose and manage the condition.
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Understanding how muscle ribosome mutations cause severe neonatal dilated cardiomyopathy and ways to treat it
This grant focuses on a rare genetic heart condition in newborns caused by mutations in a muscle-specific ribosomal protein, with hopes to find new ways to diagnose and treat it.
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Unlocking how rare genetic changes cause dilated cardiomyopathy
A large study will look at genetic data from many people to understand which rare variants affect dilated cardiomyopathy and how this changes risk and treatment.
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Role of Lmod2 in heart muscle and dilated cardiomyopathy
This NIH grant explores how a heart-specific protein (Lmod2) helps heart cells contract properly and how its problems can cause dilated cardiomyopathy in infants and children.
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Targeting DNA Damage Pathways in LMNA-Related Heart Disease
A study to understand how damaged DNA and inflammatory signals contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy caused by LMNA mutations and explore therapies that can protect the heart.
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Using miRNA to find new treatment paths for dilated cardiomyopathy
Researchers are studying heart-muscle disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) to discover miRNA-based clues that could lead to targeted therapies for patients.
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.