NIH-funded research R01 grant

Programmed Cell Death 4 and heart protection during doxorubicin treatment

Official title: Programmed Cell Death 4 in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Funded at Mayo Clinic Arizona · NIH-11395225 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A研究 grant looking at how a heart-protective gene called PDCD4 helps prevent heart damage in children treated with doxorubicin chemotherapy.

More Cardiotoxicity research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMayo Clinic Arizona
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Scottsdale, United States)
Project startAugust 18, 2025
Project endMay 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$648,757
NIH project number5R01HL180393-02
Project IDNIH-11395225 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Children and young survivors who have received or may receive anthracycline chemotherapy.

Less likely to help

Patients not exposed to doxorubicin or without risk of anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity.

What this research studies

This project uses a juvenile mouse model to study how the PDCD4 gene influences heart cells after exposure to doxorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug. The researchers will manipulate PDCD4 levels and observe effects on heart cell death and signaling pathways like STAT3 to understand why some patients develop long-term heart problems after treatment. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new therapies that protect the heart without reducing chemotherapy effectiveness. If successful, these findings could guide safer cancer treatment strategies for children and cancer survivors. The work combines animal studies with molecular analyses to explore potential protective targets in the heart.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could lead to new strategies to prevent or lessen heart damage in children receiving doxorubicin.

How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest PDCD4 influences heart cell survival during doxorubicin exposure, but translation to therapy is still exploratory.

Where this research is happening

  • Mayo Clinic Arizona
    Scottsdale, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Zhu, Wuqiang — Mayo Clinic Arizona
  • Study coordinator: Zhu, Wuqiang

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.