Role of a neutrophil protein in preventing heart rhythm problems after a heart attack
Official title: The role of neutrophil-derived RELMγ in arrhythmia
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11339672 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A heart-attack-related study looks at whether a neutrophil protein called RELMγ could prevent dangerous heart rhythms and help guide new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $736,411 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL185119-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11339672 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with a history of myocardial infarction or ischemic cardiomyopathy who may be at risk for VT or AFib and could benefit from anti-arrhythmia strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a history of heart attack–related arrhythmias or those not at risk for VT/AFib may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project explores how inflammation after a heart attack contributes to dangerous rhythms like ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation, and whether inhibiting RELMγ in neutrophils can reduce these events. Researchers will use a mouse model that mimics heart attack–related arrhythmias and test what happens when RELMγ is removed from bone marrow–derived cells. They will investigate the mechanism by which RELMγ influences rhythm disturbances and assess potential therapeutic effects shortly after the heart injury and during the subacute period. The goal is to identify a new target for preventing recurrent arrhythmias with fewer side effects than current drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that reduce life-threatening arrhythmias after a heart attack.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models have shown that inflammatory pathways and neutrophil activity can influence arrhythmia risk, supporting a potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumowski, Nina Claudia — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kumowski, Nina Claudia
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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This NIH grant studies how changes in the heart’s nerve signaling after a heart attack lead to dangerous rhythm problems, with the goal of finding ways to prevent them.
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Understanding fat deposits after heart attack and their link to dangerous heart rhythms
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Developing 3D Real-Time CMR for Arrhythmia Imaging
Aims to make real-time 3D heart MRI usable for people with irregular heartbeats to improve how doctors see arrhythmias.
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.