Understanding Calcium Signals in Heart Scarring
Calcium Signaling Mechanisms in Cardiac Fibrogenesis
This research explores how calcium signals in heart cells contribute to scarring, hoping to find new ways to treat heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11101110 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Heart disease often leads to scarring, called fibrosis, which currently has no effective treatment. This project focuses on special cells in the heart, called fibroblasts, that play a big role in this scarring process. We are looking closely at a specific molecule, TRPM7, within these fibroblasts that seems to control how scarring develops. By understanding how TRPM7 works, we hope to discover a new target for medications that could prevent or reverse heart scarring.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with various forms of heart disease that involve cardiac scarring could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose heart conditions do not involve cardiac fibrosis may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new medications to prevent or treat heart scarring, improving outcomes for many heart disease patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this team has shown that targeting TRPM7 can reduce cardiac fibrosis in models, suggesting a promising path forward.
Where this research is happening
Farmington, United States
- University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt — Farmington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yue, Lixia — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Yue, Lixia
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 below.