Understanding heart and brain interactions during sleep to prevent heart disease
Official title: Eavesdropping on heart-brain conversations during sleep for early detection and prevention of fatal cardiovascular disease
Funded at Veterans Health Foundation · NIH-10975895 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how your heart and brain talk to each other while you sleep to find early warning signs of heart problems, helping to keep you safe from serious issues like sudden cardiac arrest.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2020 |
| Award (this year) | $1,786,361 |
| NIH project number | 7DP2HL157941-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10975895 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease, particularly those with a history of heart issues or sleep disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for cardiovascular disease or do not experience sleep-related health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the heart and brain communicate during sleep to identify early signs of cardiovascular disease. By analyzing electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) data, the study aims to uncover hidden patterns that indicate potential heart issues before they become critical. The approach is innovative, utilizing unique signatures detected during sleep when the body is less active, which current clinical methods often miss. This could lead to better monitoring and prevention strategies for conditions like sudden cardiac arrest.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier detection and prevention of fatal cardiovascular diseases, potentially saving thousands of lives.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach is innovative, preliminary studies have shown promise in identifying critical cardiovascular disease signatures, suggesting potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Foundation
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Demazumder, Deeptankar — Veterans Health Foundation
- Study coordinator: Demazumder, Deeptankar
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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.