Understanding Cilia's Role in Heart Valve Disease
Official title: Cilia and Valvular Heart Disease
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11052516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how tiny structures called cilia and certain gene changes might cause common heart valve problems like mitral valve prolapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2016 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $571,418 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL131546-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11052516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is most relevant to individuals with valvular heart disease, particularly mitral valve prolapse, or those with a family history of these conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without heart valve disease or those whose condition is not related to the specific genetic or cellular mechanisms being studied may not directly benefit from this particular research.
What this research studies
Valvular heart disease is a serious and common health problem, affecting many people and leading to complications like heart failure. This project investigates a new idea that tiny, hair-like structures called cilia play a crucial role in how heart valves form during development. Researchers are building on earlier discoveries that changes in a specific gene, DZIP1, can lead to mitral valve prolapse. The goal is to understand how these genetic changes affect cilia and valve development, which could open doors to new ways to address heart valve diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of heart valve diseases, potentially paving the way for new non-surgical treatments or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds upon previous successful studies from the research team and incorporates newly recognized genetic data from heart valve disease patients, exploring novel mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Norris, Russell — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Norris, Russell
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how blood vessel cells change to help or worsen heart valves
Researchers are studying how endothelial cells change and contribute to mitral valve prolapse to find better ways to treat this common heart valve condition.
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AI to find early mitral valve problems and predict future heart risks
This project uses artificial intelligence on heart ultrasound images to find early mitral valve changes and predict which adults might later develop serious heart complications.
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Improving heart valve disease diagnosis with stress cardiac MRI
This project aims to create a better way to understand mitral valve problems using a special heart MRI scan, helping doctors decide the best treatment for patients.
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Understanding the role of PKD3 in heart valve disease
This study is looking into how certain heart cells change and affect heart valve health in people with valvular heart disease, with the hope of finding new ways to treat this condition and help patients feel better.
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Using AI to improve diagnosis and outcomes for mitral valve disease
This study is looking at how we can use advanced computer technology to better understand mitral valve disease, helping doctors spot early signs of problems in heart images so they can provide better care and treatment for patients like you.
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Improving heart valve disease assessment using advanced MRI techniques
This study is testing a new type of heart scan to help doctors better understand and treat mitral valve regurgitation, so if you have this condition, it could lead to more accurate diagnoses and better treatment options for you.
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.