Understanding Heart Energy and Calcium in Cardiac Health

Mitochondria-SR Tethering: Its Role in Cardiac Bioenergetics and Ca2+ Dynamics

NIH-funded research Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-10980544

This research explores how calcium movement inside heart cells helps the heart meet energy demands during stress, and how too much calcium can lead to heart damage.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionThomas Jefferson University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-10980544 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Our hearts need a lot of energy to pump blood, and calcium plays a key role in making sure that energy is produced efficiently. This project looks at how tiny structures called mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of our cells, manage calcium when the heart is under stress. We want to understand how this calcium handling helps the heart work better when it's busy, but also how it can become harmful and lead to conditions like heart failure if there's too much calcium. The goal is to learn more about these fundamental processes to eventually find new ways to keep hearts healthy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals with various cardiac diseases and disorders in the future.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not receive benefit from this basic science research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of heart disease mechanisms, potentially paving the way for new treatments for conditions like heart failure.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this team has shown that the mitochondrial calcium uptake system is important in heart cells, and this project builds upon those findings to address remaining knowledge gaps.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cardiac DiseasesCardiac Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.