Understanding heart inflammation caused by cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Immunologic and Antigenic Drivers of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Myocarditis
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11082466 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain cancer treatments can sometimes cause heart inflammation called myocarditis, and it's for patients who are receiving these immunotherapy drugs; the researchers want to understand how this happens so they can help improve care for those affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $805,488 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL156021-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11082466 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors who may be at risk for myocarditis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors or those without a history of heart issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune-related heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, that can occur in patients receiving cancer immunotherapy, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors. The team, consisting of experts in cardiology and cancer biology, aims to identify the immune mechanisms and specific immune cells involved in this condition. By using pre-clinical mouse models that mimic human myocarditis, they will explore how these therapies can inadvertently trigger autoimmune responses in the heart. The findings could lead to better management strategies for patients experiencing these adverse effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for patients who develop heart inflammation as a side effect of cancer immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding immune responses in similar contexts can lead to significant advancements in managing adverse effects of cancer therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balko, Justin M — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Balko, Justin M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Immunologic and Antigenic Drivers of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor–Associated Heart Inflammation
A doctor-scientist team is studying why cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint drugs sometimes develop dangerous heart inflammation and what immune targets cause it.
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Understanding how T cells and heart cells talk in a life-threatening heart inflammation from cancer immunotherapy
A doctor–scientist will study how immune T cells interact with heart cells in people treated for cancer who develop dangerous inflammation from immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Understanding how T-cells cause heart inflammation from cancer treatments
This study is looking into how certain cancer treatments can sometimes cause heart inflammation, and it aims to understand how specific immune cells might be causing this issue, so we can find better ways to protect the heart for patients undergoing these therapies.
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Rapid bedside molecular imaging of heart inflammation with ultrasound
A fast, point-of-care ultrasound test using special contrast bubbles may help doctors quickly see active heart inflammation in people with chest pain or suspected ACS.
-
Muscle-Related Enzyme TRIM55 and Autoimmune Heart Inflammation in Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome
A new research project studies how a muscle-specific enzyme called TRIM55 drives autoimmune heart inflammation in a genetic syndrome.
-
Targeted CXCR3 blockade to treat immunotherapy-related heart inflammation
A targeted drug approach aims to prevent or lessen heart inflammation caused by immune therapies in cancer patients, using CXCR3-blocking strategies.
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.