Role of titin in diaphragm weakness during mechanical ventilation
Official title: Role of titin in the pathophysiology of diaphragm weakness during mechanical ventilation
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11404951 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how the diaphragm’s core proteins work together, especially titin and myosin, to understand why diaphragm weakness happens during mechanical ventilation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2014 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $574,734 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL121500-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404951 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients in ICUs on mechanical ventilation whose diaphragm tissue can be biopsied for study.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing a biopsy or not meeting safety criteria for diaphragm sampling.
What this research studies
The project explores how mechanical unloading from ventilation affects diaphragm muscle function by looking at how myosin and actin interact and how titin may change this process. It uses diaphragm biopsies from ICU patients to measure contractile force and the number of myosin motors that engage with actin. The team combines mechanical testing with X-ray diffraction and biochemical assays to link molecular changes to muscle weakness in patients on ventilators. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could explain why some patients struggle to wean off ventilation. This knowledge could guide future therapies to preserve diaphragm strength.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or reverse diaphragm weakness in patients on mechanical ventilation, improving recovery and weaning from ventilation.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest myosin heads can enter a super-relaxed state; linking titin to this process is a novel angle that may yield new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ottenheijm, Coen — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Ottenheijm, Coen
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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.