NIH-funded research Career grant

Myosin binding protein C variants and heart disease

Official title: Pathogenic mechanisms of myosin binding protein C missense variants within hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11377477 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A doctor-scientist at the University of Michigan is studying how certain genetic changes in a heart protein (MYBPC3) cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and whether fixing the protein or its interactions could help people with this condition.

More Cardiomyopathy research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project startJuly 1, 2022
Project endJune 30, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$167,400
NIH project number5K08HL163328-05
Project IDNIH-11377477 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by MYBPC3 variants, especially those carrying the R502W variant, could be relevant future participants.

Less likely to help

People without HCM or without MYBPC3 involvement are unlikely to benefit.

What this research studies

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart condition that can lead to heart failure and dangerous rhythms. This project focuses on missense changes in MYBPC3, which are often hard to interpret, to understand how they disrupt protein binding in heart muscle. The team will use affinity mass spectrometry to study binding changes, and will develop a patient-derived cellular model plus a mouse model of the common R502W variant. If successful, the work may show that restoring normal MYBPC3 function could reverse disease features. The study aims to translate molecular insights into possible future therapies for people with HCM caused by MYBPC3 variants.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: This research could pave the way for targeted therapies that restore normal heart protein function and improve outcomes for people with this genetic form of HCM.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest that correcting protein interactions can influence disease features, but human-variant–specific strategies are still emerging.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
    Ann Arbor, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Thompson, Andrea Dooley — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
  • Study coordinator: Thompson, Andrea Dooley

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.