Preventing chemotherapy-related heart and blood vessel damage

Alleviation of chemotherapy-induced cardiovascular toxicity

NIH-funded research Ohio State University · NIH-11371039

Looks at whether boosting a natural 'cleanup' switch in blood-vessel cells can protect the heart during chemotherapy that can harm the heart.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOhio State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11371039 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on endothelial cells—the cells that line blood vessels—to understand how chemotherapy drugs like doxorubicin can damage them and lead to heart problems. The team studies a protein called TFEB that controls lysosomes, the cell’s waste-removal system, using human endothelial cells in the lab and mice treated with chemotherapy. They will test whether restoring lysosomal function in these cells reduces inflammation, oxidative stress, and heart damage after chemo. Results could point to new ways to prevent or treat chemotherapy-related cardiovascular injury.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People receiving or who have received cardiotoxic chemotherapy (for example doxorubicin or some HER2-targeted treatments) would be the likely candidates for future therapies based on this work.

Not a fit: Patients not exposed to cardiotoxic cancer drugs or whose heart issues come from other causes may not benefit from these findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that lower the risk of heart problems from certain chemotherapy drugs.

How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal studies suggest that improving lysosomal or TFEB activity can protect blood-vessel and heart cells, but this exact approach has not yet been tested in patients.

Where this research is happening

Columbus, 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.
Conditions Anti-Cancer Agents
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.