Sex-specific heart cell signaling and rhythm problems linked to a heart failure drug target
Official title: Sex-dependent regulation of cardiac cAMP, ECC, and arrhythmia by phosphodiesterases
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11412596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study from UCLA aims to understand how a key heart signaling pathway controls heart beating and rhythm differently in men and women with heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $622,940 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL179122-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with heart failure (either HFrEF or HFpEF) or those affected by related heart rhythm problems, with willingness to contribute samples or data as part of ongoing research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without heart failure or those not contributing biological samples or data may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will look at how the molecule cyclic AMP and its regulating enzymes, especially PDE4D, affect heart cell contraction and electrical signals in male and female hearts with heart failure. They will use advanced imaging of the whole heart, plus single-cell analyses and live-cell signaling reporters to map effects from the molecule level to the whole organ. The project hopes to reveal why men and women respond differently so future treatments can be tailored. This work involves animal models and human-relevant heart biology to uncover limits and opportunities for improving heart failure care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to sex-specific strategies to prevent arrhythmias and improve heart function in people with heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows that targeting cAMP signaling can influence heart cell behavior and arrhythmias, but sex-dependent aspects are still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xiang, Yang Kevin — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Xiang, Yang Kevin
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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.