Mirror-Image Natural Compounds as New Arrhythmia Treatments
Official title: Development of Mirror-Image Natural Products as Antiarrhythmic Therapeutics
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11406325 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing a new type of antiarrhythmic drug that targets faulty RyR2 calcium channels in the heart to help people with inherited or acquired rhythm disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 4, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $712,666 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL181098-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406325 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with RyR2-related arrhythmia risk (e.g., CPVT or CRDS) or related heart rhythm disorders could be candidates for future translational work or trials.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without RyR2-linked arrhythmias or those not suitable for early preclinical therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and test a novel class of drugs based on mirror-image natural products to normalize RyR2-mediated calcium release in heart cells. The work involves de novo chemical synthesis to produce potent, selective inhibitors, along with pharmacology and disease-model testing to support preclinical candidate selection. By focusing on RyR2 dysfunction linked to CPVT and CRDS, the team hopes to reduce dangerous arrhythmias and inform future therapies for heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The research combines chemistry, biology, and preclinical studies in models relevant to human disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with specific RyR2-related arrhythmias could have a new, targeted therapy to reduce abnormal heart rhythms.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have shown promising reduction of abnormal calcium release with RyR2 modulators in model systems, supporting further development.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnston, Jeffrey Nicholas — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Johnston, Jeffrey Nicholas
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.