Molecular tie between the heart’s interior scaffold and its nucleus in ARVC
Official title: Intercalated disc-nuclear lamina coupling as a molecular substrate for arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11395368 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how defects in a heart cell protein called PKP2 may disrupt the nucleus and trigger dangerous arrhythmias in people with ARVC.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $658,771 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169961-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395368 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ARVC or PKP2-related heart conditions may be relevant for related future studies or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without heart disease are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
If you have ARVC or related heart conditions, researchers will look at how PKP2 mutations alter the cell’s internal scaffolding and the nucleus, potentially driving disease progression. The project uses mouse models and human samples to explore changes in the nuclear envelope, DNA damage, and how these signals affect heart cell function. By mapping these processes, the study aims to connect molecular changes inside heart cells to the risk of arrhythmias and heart damage. This work could lay the groundwork for new approaches to prevent or treat dangerous heart rhythms in ARVC patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding this pathway could lead to new strategies to prevent dangerous arrhythmias in ARVC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in mice and human samples suggests nuclear envelope disruption is connected to ARVC, supporting this direction.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Small, Eric M — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Small, Eric M
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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.