Tracking heart cell processes during cancer treatment
Official title: Monitoring Autophagy in the Heart and in Tumors Treated with Potentially Cardiotoxic Chemotherapy
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11006326 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cancer treatments that can affect the heart also change a process in heart cells, using a special imaging technique to help find ways to protect the heart during chemotherapy, which could be helpful for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $664,765 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166810-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11006326 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who are being treated with chemotherapy known to have potential cardiotoxic effects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy or those with pre-existing severe heart conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how cancer treatments, particularly those that can harm the heart, affect a process called autophagy in heart cells. Using a specially designed nanoparticle that can be detected by MRI, the study aims to visualize autophagy in real-time during chemotherapy. By understanding these changes, researchers hope to identify ways to protect the heart from damage caused by cancer therapies. Patients undergoing chemotherapy may benefit from insights gained through this innovative imaging technique.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing heart damage in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using similar imaging techniques to monitor cellular processes, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Howard H. — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Howard H.
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Genetic clues for doxorubicin heart risk using patient-derived heart cells
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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.