NIH-funded research R01 grant

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.

More Cardiomyopathy research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Rochester
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Rochester, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2023
Project endJuly 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$658,771
NIH project number5R01HL169961-04
Project IDNIH-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

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.