SARM1's role in heart disease and metabolic diabetes
Official title: Roles of SARM1 NAD hydrolase in metabolic cardiomyopathy
Funded at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation · NIH-11378362 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how a protein called SARM1 affects heart disease in people with diabetes, and whether stopping its activity could protect the heart.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | June 5, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $604,146 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL164854-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378362 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with adult-onset diabetes and heart disease may benefit from future therapies targeting SARM1 and NAD+ pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without metabolic cardiomyopathy or diabetes-related heart disease are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how SARM1, a molecule linked to cellular stress and mitochondria, may drive NAD+ depletion and heart damage in metabolic cardiomyopathy. Researchers will study SARM1’s activation, its impact on NAD+ levels, and its influence on mitophagy in heart cells under metabolic stress. They plan to use cardiomyocyte-specific mouse models and cellular studies to uncover the mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets. The goal is to translate these insights into ways to prevent or treat heart disease in patients with brittle or adult-onset diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to protect the heart in people with diabetes by preserving NAD+ balance and improving mitochondrial function.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in mouse models suggest SARM1 influences heart cell health under metabolic stress, supporting further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Chi Fung — Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Lee, Chi Fung
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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.