Peptide therapy to help the heart relax in diastolic (HFpEF) heart failure

C-terminal Peptide of Cardiac Troponin I for the Treatment of Diastolic Hear Failure

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11330277

This project uses a small piece of a heart protein to help people with diastolic heart failure (HFpEF) have better heart relaxation.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11330277 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers are working on a peptide taken from the tail end of a heart protein (cardiac troponin I) called cTnI-C27 to see if it helps the heart relax more effectively. In the lab they will study how the peptide binds to the heart's contraction machinery and changes calcium sensitivity, using biochemical and genetic tests. They will also use mouse models of diastolic dysfunction to look for improved heart relaxation and function. The long-term aim is to move toward a targeted treatment for people with HFpEF, a type of heart failure that currently has few effective therapies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with diastolic heart failure (HFpEF) and signs of impaired relaxation would be the most likely candidates for future trials of this therapy.

Not a fit: People whose main problem is reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or breathlessness from non-cardiac causes are unlikely to benefit from this peptide approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could become a new targeted treatment that improves heart relaxation and symptoms in people with HFpEF.

How similar studies have performed: Related myofilament-targeting strategies have shown encouraging results in laboratory and animal studies, but there are no established human treatments yet using this exact approach.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.