Transcriptional clues to a serious newborn heart condition
Official title: Transcriptional Regulation in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Funded at Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, INC · NIH-11431824 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study of how a key gene called MYRF affects heart development in newborns with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, to uncover causes and motivate new therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Utica, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $775,089 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL187953-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11431824 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to direct patient enrollment in this grant—this is a basic science study using animal models to understand HLHS mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
There is no immediate patient care from this basic science work, and results may not directly apply to current patients.
What this research studies
This project looks at why some babies are born with a severely underdeveloped left side of the heart. Researchers focus on MYRF, a transcription factor, and where it acts in heart cells such as epicardial, endothelial, and muscle cells. By selectively turning off MYRF in specific heart cell types in mice, they aim to see which cells drive the disease features. The goal is to map the molecular pathways that shape left heart growth and identify potential points for future interventions before birth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding the molecular drivers of HLHS could lead to new prenatal therapies that improve heart development and survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked MYRF to HLHS and cell-type-specific roles, suggesting this approach is promising but still early.
Where this research is happening
-
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, INC
Utica, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Tongbin — Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, INC
- Study coordinator: Wu, Tongbin
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.