Understanding Heart Failure and New Treatments
Mechanisms of Maladaptation in Heart Failure
This research aims to find new ways to treat heart failure by understanding how certain medications work and developing new ones with fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11112529 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Heart failure often requires medications like beta-blockers, which are very helpful but can cause unwanted side effects, making it hard for patients to take the highest, most effective dose. This project explores how these medications interact with specific targets in the body called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to activate beneficial pathways. Researchers are looking for new types of drugs that can specifically activate the good pathways while avoiding the side effects. This involves studying how existing drugs bind to these receptors and exploring new binding sites to create more effective and tolerable treatments for heart failure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for patients with heart failure who currently take or may need beta-blockers, as it seeks to improve future treatment options for their condition.
Not a fit: Patients without heart failure or those not affected by cardiovascular disease would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new heart failure medications that are more effective and cause fewer side effects, allowing patients to achieve better health outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies, including some by the investigators on this proposal, have shown promising results in understanding how drugs can selectively activate beneficial pathways, suggesting a strong foundation for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rockman, Howard a — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Rockman, Howard a
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.