Protein variants in heart remodeling
Alternative Protein Isoforms in Ventricular Remodeling
This project looks for different protein versions that appear when the heart thickens or weakens in people with heart enlargement or heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11326340 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine RNA sequencing with advanced protein-detection methods to find which alternatively spliced transcripts are actually made into proteins in remodeled hearts. They will study mouse models that mimic systolic and diastolic dysfunction and focus on changes in splicing factors and RNA-binding proteins that drive those switches. The team will use mass spectrometry and computational analysis to map the specific protein isoforms (proteoforms) present in diseased heart tissue and examine how sequence changes alter protein structure and function. Findings will help pinpoint which splicing changes matter for disease and which are unlikely to produce functional protein.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cardiac hypertrophy or heart failure—including those with systolic or diastolic dysfunction—are the group most directly relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Individuals without heart disease or with heart conditions caused by purely vascular or non-splicing mechanisms may not see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific protein forms that drive heart enlargement or failure and enable new diagnostic markers or targeted therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using RNA sequencing combined with mass spectrometry have detected tissue-specific splice variant proteins, but translating those findings into treatments is still an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lam, Maggie — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Lam, Maggie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.